Proverbs 6:-16-19
"These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
Proverbs 7:1-4
"My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," And call understanding your nearest kin."
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
How Many Works and How Big?
If our Lord said that "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9 then how can we expect to know whether or not we are doing a deed that pleases the Lord? We can't even know our own hearts. We lie to God in our prayers when we say we love Him and then proceed to disobey what He told us to do in His Word. We don't even seek His Word for direction from Him.
Our Lord also said, Isaiah 64:6-7: But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind." Mankind can not clean itself up to satisfy the Holiness of God. He is the only Holy One who can remove filth or despirate wickedness.
No where in Scripture do we have a description of the size of the works that count for salvation. Nor does He tell us in His Word how many of the right kinds of works would need to be done to gain heaven.
What a cruel god so many people have, that thier god would expect us to earn our way to heaven, but not explain how many of those works will be enough to balance the scales in our behalf. The Muslims believe that their good works are placed on a scale, if the scale tips just enough in the direction of the good works, then they are able to gain heaven. 51% good works and 49% bad works is enough to save them. What kind of a god would allow 49% evil in his presence. Our God can not tollerate any evil at all in His presence, He is perfectly Holy. We must be perfect to come into His presence. But according to Scripture we can not be perfect. We are despirately wicked as Jeremiah 17 says.
What is the answer? Simply that we have no good works in us at all. That is the reason Jesus Christ had to come and shed His precious blood for us. He was the perfect sacraficial lamb of God that could satisfy the Father's demand for perfect holiness. It is Christ's sacrafice that counts on our behalf. He sits at the right hand of the Father today and pleads on our behalf. The work is begun by Christ and it was finished by Christ. He said while He was on the cross before He died, "It is finished." John 19:30
It is blasphemous to think that we can add to anything that our Lord did when He declared that it was finished. All the work was done by Him then and all the work of righteousness in us is also done by Him now. The day we realize this, is the day we truely begin to trust Him for each day, each work and our future with Him.
I can not imagine that Christ would go through all that suffering and humilations, the perfect God, and it not be enough, ludicrous. Our pride wants us to think that we can do something, anything to earn it. It is our pride that will not humble ourselves and trust what God did. We like to be in control, to say that we are nothing and have nothing to offer, leaves us humble, we don't like that.
What happends after we realize these truths? 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their traspasses to them, and has comitted to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
When we are made a new creation, He changes us and we no longer desire the things we used to do that grieved Him. We begin to love His ways and His Word. He begins to work obedience in our hearts. Then He gives us works to do. There are many good works out there but we must seek Him for the ones He wants us to do. Any works we do in the flesh just to feel good about ourselves will not count, only those that the Lord told us to do, that we did in obedience to Him.
Our hearts like to think that we are special, that we are capable of great things, that we are good, oh so good. We have been raised on self esteem, that we should love our selves and be sure we count for something. This is the reason we have such a hard time accepting that we are nothing and that God is everything. We don't like to beleive that we were helpless and someone else had to save us, so we attempt to add our own works to that of Christ's, this is blaspehmey.
Once we are saved the Lord gives us these instructions from James 2:14-26. Because we have faith and have been saved we will have good works. In verse 22 we are told: "Do you see that faith was working together with his (Abraham's) works, and by works faith was made perfect? The works prove that we had faith.
Galatians 2:16 says, "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by fiath in the Son of God, who love me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 5:25 says: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
When we realize that God is the One that does all the work in us after we are saved, we then have no reason to boast about our good deed, He gets all the glory.
It takes faith to believe that God can do all His good works in us. His good works His way. What a weight is lift from us when we trust Him and then obey.
Blessings to you!!!!
Gwendolyn
Our Lord also said, Isaiah 64:6-7: But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind." Mankind can not clean itself up to satisfy the Holiness of God. He is the only Holy One who can remove filth or despirate wickedness.
No where in Scripture do we have a description of the size of the works that count for salvation. Nor does He tell us in His Word how many of the right kinds of works would need to be done to gain heaven.
What a cruel god so many people have, that thier god would expect us to earn our way to heaven, but not explain how many of those works will be enough to balance the scales in our behalf. The Muslims believe that their good works are placed on a scale, if the scale tips just enough in the direction of the good works, then they are able to gain heaven. 51% good works and 49% bad works is enough to save them. What kind of a god would allow 49% evil in his presence. Our God can not tollerate any evil at all in His presence, He is perfectly Holy. We must be perfect to come into His presence. But according to Scripture we can not be perfect. We are despirately wicked as Jeremiah 17 says.
What is the answer? Simply that we have no good works in us at all. That is the reason Jesus Christ had to come and shed His precious blood for us. He was the perfect sacraficial lamb of God that could satisfy the Father's demand for perfect holiness. It is Christ's sacrafice that counts on our behalf. He sits at the right hand of the Father today and pleads on our behalf. The work is begun by Christ and it was finished by Christ. He said while He was on the cross before He died, "It is finished." John 19:30
It is blasphemous to think that we can add to anything that our Lord did when He declared that it was finished. All the work was done by Him then and all the work of righteousness in us is also done by Him now. The day we realize this, is the day we truely begin to trust Him for each day, each work and our future with Him.
I can not imagine that Christ would go through all that suffering and humilations, the perfect God, and it not be enough, ludicrous. Our pride wants us to think that we can do something, anything to earn it. It is our pride that will not humble ourselves and trust what God did. We like to be in control, to say that we are nothing and have nothing to offer, leaves us humble, we don't like that.
What happends after we realize these truths? 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their traspasses to them, and has comitted to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
When we are made a new creation, He changes us and we no longer desire the things we used to do that grieved Him. We begin to love His ways and His Word. He begins to work obedience in our hearts. Then He gives us works to do. There are many good works out there but we must seek Him for the ones He wants us to do. Any works we do in the flesh just to feel good about ourselves will not count, only those that the Lord told us to do, that we did in obedience to Him.
Our hearts like to think that we are special, that we are capable of great things, that we are good, oh so good. We have been raised on self esteem, that we should love our selves and be sure we count for something. This is the reason we have such a hard time accepting that we are nothing and that God is everything. We don't like to beleive that we were helpless and someone else had to save us, so we attempt to add our own works to that of Christ's, this is blaspehmey.
Once we are saved the Lord gives us these instructions from James 2:14-26. Because we have faith and have been saved we will have good works. In verse 22 we are told: "Do you see that faith was working together with his (Abraham's) works, and by works faith was made perfect? The works prove that we had faith.
Galatians 2:16 says, "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by fiath in the Son of God, who love me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 5:25 says: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
When we realize that God is the One that does all the work in us after we are saved, we then have no reason to boast about our good deed, He gets all the glory.
It takes faith to believe that God can do all His good works in us. His good works His way. What a weight is lift from us when we trust Him and then obey.
Blessings to you!!!!
Gwendolyn
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
God's Kind of Love
Romans 12:3-8
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. So we, being many are one body in Christ, and individually member of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith: or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:15-16
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord: rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer: distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your minds on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion."
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. So we, being many are one body in Christ, and individually member of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith: or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:15-16
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord: rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer: distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your minds on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion."
Monday, March 15, 2010
Compassionate Love
I have been pondering the ideas of compassion and empathy. The Bible is very clear that we are to be compassionate toward others and especially those in the household of God. We are to have a burden for souls, desiring to win them to the Lord. A concern that I have had is the misunderstanding that we have about love. Is it loving to rescue a person from their consequences that will teach them to avoid the damaging situation again. When someone has spent the rent money on cigarettes, candy, chips, movies and gambling, should we pay their rent for them? Perhaps it is better to allow them to go through the difficulties they will face when they do not take care of their responsibilites. Too often we mistake selfish emotionalism with compassion. The compassionate thing to do when someone is messing up, is to guide them to the solution and let them make the steps of correction themselves. If I love my neighbor I will do what is best for him, not what makes me feel good. Of course I am not talking about those who have done the right thing and have just fallen on difficult circumstance not of their own making. I believe in being generous with those individuals. There is much said in the Proverbs about this subject. May we show compassion to everyone, according to their need and in accordance with the Word of God.
Blessings,
Gwendolyn
Blessings,
Gwendolyn
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Internet Missionaries
Very recently I have been introduced to Facebook. I had little desire in the beginning to pursue this phenomena. In fact, I went so far as to delete it several times, thinking that it was mostly silliness that was occurring on it's pages. Then one day I became curious, asking myself the question, "is there anything of depth for believers on this new form of communication." So I typed in the words "Christian facebook" into the address line and was pleasantly surprised to find that there is much going on in this arena.
I found a site that had over 2 million facebook visitors. There were strong believers and new believers. There was superficiality, but I found that if we brought up subjects of depth, there were those who desired good strong discussion in the deeper things of the Word of God. AND, we could become friends with those who wanted to continue a Christian relationship in the Word, we could do that one on one with individual personal sites.
The wonderful thing that I discovered was that facebook could become a witnessing tool. There were those on the site that were not believers, that we could share the Gospel with.
The question was asked by a couple of older more seasoned believers, "I wonder how many of these over 2 million Christians are really saved." That was my question too. It became evident that many were not, and do not understand the Gospel message in truth, they have been raised on a superficial gospel of good works and positive statements. That gave me an excitement for this medium as being God's way of getting the Gospel out to those who have searched out this site and desire something they are missing, but don't know what it is.
I had the privilege of dialogue with a practicing Muslim, an atheist, a liberal Christian and a professed Nazi. I was able to give God's Word and other believers would join in and support what I said. I would also do that same for them. Oh!!! how wonderful it is to tell the truth and have others agree and add to what we have said. This is what a true family looks like. Each personality allowed to be who they are without recrimination only love and concern for another persons salvation and well being.
We can now be missionaries right from our own homes as we speak the Word to the unsaved through the internet. We can also use these sites to encourage the lonely believers who are finding it difficult to engage in spiritual conversation in their own homes or towns. The most exciting discussions are with those who take seriously the scripture that says "iron sharpens iron." Most believers who discuss the Word these days fight to win their point of view, not to discuss for the purpose of coming to a common agreement, based on the Word of God. We need to lay aside our arrogance, stop fighting to win and begin listening and responding in humility, using the Word of God as our benchmark for our beliefs. We may actually learn something we didn't know and encourage someone else into a closer walk with our Savior.
Blessings,
Gwendolyn
I found a site that had over 2 million facebook visitors. There were strong believers and new believers. There was superficiality, but I found that if we brought up subjects of depth, there were those who desired good strong discussion in the deeper things of the Word of God. AND, we could become friends with those who wanted to continue a Christian relationship in the Word, we could do that one on one with individual personal sites.
The wonderful thing that I discovered was that facebook could become a witnessing tool. There were those on the site that were not believers, that we could share the Gospel with.
The question was asked by a couple of older more seasoned believers, "I wonder how many of these over 2 million Christians are really saved." That was my question too. It became evident that many were not, and do not understand the Gospel message in truth, they have been raised on a superficial gospel of good works and positive statements. That gave me an excitement for this medium as being God's way of getting the Gospel out to those who have searched out this site and desire something they are missing, but don't know what it is.
I had the privilege of dialogue with a practicing Muslim, an atheist, a liberal Christian and a professed Nazi. I was able to give God's Word and other believers would join in and support what I said. I would also do that same for them. Oh!!! how wonderful it is to tell the truth and have others agree and add to what we have said. This is what a true family looks like. Each personality allowed to be who they are without recrimination only love and concern for another persons salvation and well being.
We can now be missionaries right from our own homes as we speak the Word to the unsaved through the internet. We can also use these sites to encourage the lonely believers who are finding it difficult to engage in spiritual conversation in their own homes or towns. The most exciting discussions are with those who take seriously the scripture that says "iron sharpens iron." Most believers who discuss the Word these days fight to win their point of view, not to discuss for the purpose of coming to a common agreement, based on the Word of God. We need to lay aside our arrogance, stop fighting to win and begin listening and responding in humility, using the Word of God as our benchmark for our beliefs. We may actually learn something we didn't know and encourage someone else into a closer walk with our Savior.
Blessings,
Gwendolyn
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Can You Read This?
Yesterday I received this e-mail from our granddaughter. This is very interesting!!!
Is it possible that those who can read this, are people who see the entire big picture in life matters and have a little more discernment in the bigger picture? Whereas those who can not read it have greater discernment in the details for fine tuning a matter? There was a saying I learned as a young person that went like this: "we can't see the forest for the trees." In other words we are so focused on the details that we miss the bigger picture. According to this e-mail, 55 out of 100 people can read this and the other 45 can not. The Lord made all of us the way He did that we may help one another according to our strengths and weaknesses. Some will see the details to be able to fine tune a matter. While those who see the bigger picture will contribute wisdom about the ramifications down the road, of a matter. In engineering there is need for those who are architects who design a plant or building with all it's rooms, landscapes and functionality. Then the engineers come along and design all the intricacies of piping, machinery setting, specialties in safety. Everyone has a job to do, no one can do another persons job, and each person must respect and encourage those who contribute their portion of the work with their special expertise. When a job is finished well, it is because all people involved have cooperated and respected one another's talents. Everyone contributes to the quality of a job right down to the janitor who cleans things up to keep an area clear for the workmen who build. Each job is necessary and valuable. I marvel at the way we are made and the abilities God has given each of us. It seems that we can more fully enjoy our gifts and talents when we realize that they all have value and purpose, no one is without a job to do. And, everyone can do his job well..as unto the Lord. These principles hold true in spiritual things too. We must respect the spiritual gifts of others and enjoy learning from them as they can learn from us. "All things work together for good, to those who love the Lord."
Read and enjoy. By the way, I didn't spell check this, it would have been an exercise in futility.
Eonverye taht can raed tihs rsaie yuor hnad.
To my 'selected' strange-minded friends:
If you can read the following paragraph, forward it on to your friends and the person that sent it to you with 'yes' in the subject line.
Only great minds can read this
This is weird, but interesting!
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it
FORWARD ONLY IF YOU CAN READ IT
Forward it & put 'YES' in the Subject Line
Is it possible that those who can read this, are people who see the entire big picture in life matters and have a little more discernment in the bigger picture? Whereas those who can not read it have greater discernment in the details for fine tuning a matter? There was a saying I learned as a young person that went like this: "we can't see the forest for the trees." In other words we are so focused on the details that we miss the bigger picture. According to this e-mail, 55 out of 100 people can read this and the other 45 can not. The Lord made all of us the way He did that we may help one another according to our strengths and weaknesses. Some will see the details to be able to fine tune a matter. While those who see the bigger picture will contribute wisdom about the ramifications down the road, of a matter. In engineering there is need for those who are architects who design a plant or building with all it's rooms, landscapes and functionality. Then the engineers come along and design all the intricacies of piping, machinery setting, specialties in safety. Everyone has a job to do, no one can do another persons job, and each person must respect and encourage those who contribute their portion of the work with their special expertise. When a job is finished well, it is because all people involved have cooperated and respected one another's talents. Everyone contributes to the quality of a job right down to the janitor who cleans things up to keep an area clear for the workmen who build. Each job is necessary and valuable. I marvel at the way we are made and the abilities God has given each of us. It seems that we can more fully enjoy our gifts and talents when we realize that they all have value and purpose, no one is without a job to do. And, everyone can do his job well..as unto the Lord. These principles hold true in spiritual things too. We must respect the spiritual gifts of others and enjoy learning from them as they can learn from us. "All things work together for good, to those who love the Lord."
Read and enjoy. By the way, I didn't spell check this, it would have been an exercise in futility.
Eonverye taht can raed tihs rsaie yuor hnad.
To my 'selected' strange-minded friends:
If you can read the following paragraph, forward it on to your friends and the person that sent it to you with 'yes' in the subject line.
Only great minds can read this
This is weird, but interesting!
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it
FORWARD ONLY IF YOU CAN READ IT
Forward it & put 'YES' in the Subject Line
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Workers All Over The World
I have been watching the facebooks of people who are strong believers. They are all over the world. The United States has indulged for so long in superficial Chritianity, that we forget there is a deeper commitment and walk among believers in other parts of the world. While we are seeking pleasure and enjoyment, taking advantage of our prosperity, there are those in God's family who are laboring and suffering to bring the Gospel to the oppressed peoples. We are afraid to cross the street and clearly tell a neighbor his need for a Savior, but we will go to his party and talk about our boats, our trips, our prosperity, proving to him that we are just like him. Why on earth would he need whatever we have, he already has it. I have read of people in Malasia, Turkey, Indonesia and India, who spend all their time in the work of the Lord. They don't worry about winning a friend by a soft squishy Gospel. They preach and teach clearly and straightforwardly, the bad news...we are lost sinners on our way to hell...and then the good news....Christ paid our debt, if we trust Him we will be with Him forever. Let's pray for those who labor in oppressive countries, where their lives are in danger much of the time because of the Gospel. Then let's pray for our own churches here in America to develop a depth of Christianity that goes beyond superficial rules and enjoyments. The time is short, He will be here soon and the work is not yet finished.
Blessings,
Gwendolyn
Blessings,
Gwendolyn
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