tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79093801897789189492024-02-19T12:14:46.578-06:00Healing ThoughtsWriting to Heal the Weary Souldeborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-64756655766213788362019-08-25T19:25:00.000-05:002019-08-25T19:25:07.602-05:00Why Does It Matter?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He remembers what the squall was, but his mom and dad never even had a clue. Not even when the event took place. There is nothing quite like the experience of your sixteen-month-old child getting in touch with his terrible two's four months early.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were in town for a doctor's appointment and stopped for a quick lunch. As he tells it today, our toddler didn't want something we'd ordered him for lunch, and we all know how that can turn out. I always predicted that son would be an opera star. He had lungs...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We are in the midst of a physical manifestation of a spiritual battle at this very moment. Satan has been using women ever since Eve to accomplish his goals of weakening and destroying God's kingdom.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The women of the early suffragette movement encouraged loud noisy exchanges, so perhaps they would applaud the current shenanigans of the current crop of feminists. I can tell you, that just like my boy pitching his fit in the restaurant, these women are much like a loud rude child throwing self on the floor in a tantrum.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">People who applaud the breakdown of moral restraint are minions of Satan, and there are many.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I've heard of a show—I'm not sure if it was a television show or a movie on television. However, the show was set back in a more Andy and Mayberry era of simplicity. That was where it started but not where it finished.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It also runs in my mind that it began in black and white with a simple loving family living and functioning as it would have in the nineteen fifties. A Leave it to Beaver scenario, but as the different members moved into more sinful, modern thought and away from simple ideals, it moved into color from the original b & w. The ultimate message was until sin enters the scene we aren't real, we aren't living.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">What poppycock that is. Since the Garden of Eden humanity has had sin with all its struggles and heartaches. Eve didn't understand what the phrase 'ye shall die' meant, but it was her sorrow to experience the first murder and death when one of her sons killed his brother.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She lost not only a beloved son, but the murderer was sent to wander away from his home, likely never to return. She lost both sons.</span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<h1 class="text-align-center" style="background-color: white; color: #382400; font-family: proxima-nova; font-weight: 100; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 24px; text-align: center;">
<em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I do not believe that women are better than men. We have not wrecked railroads, nor corrupted legislature, nor done many unholy things that men have done; but then we must remember that we have not had the chance.</span></em></h1>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 24px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #777777;">
<em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jane Addams</span></em></div>
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<em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></em></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At one time men strove to become better human beings because they wanted to be worthy of the love of good women. I don't know that women asked to be put on a pedestal, but it wasn't a bad thing. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 24px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It isn't bad to strive to be a better person. It isn't bad to inspire another person to be more noble, not self-righteous, but humbly righteous. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 24px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The problem is that under that system, a woman had to have a higher moral standard. It is a burden, and our current system doesn't encourage high moral standards for anyone.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 24px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like spoiled children pitching a fit on the floor, we're told to do whatever makes us happy. It doesn't matter what the right thing to do is, our only criteria is our own happiness.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 24px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've repeated this quip several times. It's a snippet of conversation: </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 24px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span><span style="font-size: large;">Men have made a mess of things long enough, I</span><span style="font-size: large;"> think women ought to have their try at being elected to office and running things."</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 24px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"One thing I've found in observing things in this life is that there isn't any difference between a corrupt man or a corrupt woman."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 24px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This goes back to the Jane Adams quote above. It hasn't taken all that long to see how that works. The more power women have the more corrupt they become.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And truly, there isn't any difference between a corrupt man and a corrupt woman... in this day and age they've tried to make even the bathrooms the same. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's time to wake up for all of us. Not just women need to crawl out of the mire. Christians need to, if not get back on the pedestal, at least wash up and clean up. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 24px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Act 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hallelujah! What a Savior! </span></div>
</div>
deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-42115179234957757462019-06-25T13:57:00.000-05:002019-06-25T13:58:23.869-05:00Physical Issues of a Spiritual War<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Several years ago a speaker was being interviewed on the radio, and he used quotes from an article that went like this:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“The gist of the article
says: There is a quiet subculture out there... I came across <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">a number of</span> men—who have decided not to
marry. The reason? Women are no longer women.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The article suggests that, apparently,
men have a genetic disposition to be masculine. In today's culture people call it toxic masculinity. But their manly instincts are to care for, protect,
guide their households. In short to be the MAN of the family. We are told that women today do not want manly men,
and according to the speaker being interviewed, some men do not <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">want</span> <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">manly</span> women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We hear a relentless
barrage about the war on women, but what is this war? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do women want? Birth control?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Job equality? Is it abortion at any
stage on demand? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or do they want to be
men? Even as a woman, I don't know what these women want. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The war on women is like an old
fashioned false front building. It is tall and lofty from the front, but nothing
behind it. I have said on numerous occasions—“in our <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">society,</span> you can tell a man to stand up, sit
down, turn around, and shut up, but you cannot tell a woman anything.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If
you tell a woman she needs to do something to be pleasing to God, even Christian <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">women</span> will tell you why
those things do not apply to them. Ninety-eight percent of them will say, that doesn't apply to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, here's a news flash—The war is not against women, not
against men, but against God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent
was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he
said unto the woman...” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We know that the serpent/Satan beguiled Eve into thinking she was missing
something since she was not allowed to eat of the fruit. God was cheating
her, so she <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">ate</span>, “and she <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">gave also</span> unto her husband with her, and he did
eat.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why did Eve eat of the fruit? She wanted
something she thought she just had to have. This is <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">feminine</span> nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women want to change things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to be taller, shorter, thinner,
fatter…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">never-ending</span> list that spells discontent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1Timothy 2:14 “and Adam was
not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression:” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why did Adam eat of the fruit? He
wasn’t tricked or beguiled. Did Adam look down a long corridor of eternal life
and decide that he could not live forever (eternal life) without
Eve (now that she would die)? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scriptures do not reveal
his reason for disobeying, but we know what their fruit bore for them… and for
all of humankind. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Satan is subtle and <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">effective using social media t</span>o sell the ideas to women that create discontent such as: “Have it your way…” or “You deserve a break
today,” or “Why wait, you can have it all
now, or "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle…”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ephesians 5:24 “But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives
also be to their husbands in everything.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Christians focus on the second half—wives be in subjection— of course, we can't do that in today’s society. Men have been relieved of the burden of the position of the head of the family but...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The sad reality is Christ
as head of the church has followed in the same manner. Christ has been relieved as head of the church just as husbands being the
head of the wife. Very few, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">in</span> fact,
revere Christ as head of the church. Yes, they honor him with their lips, but their heart is far from him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Satan is still using women to accomplish his agenda. Instead of looking for validation from other women, or validation from their jobs and from things of this present world, women ought to be looking to God for guidance to what's right and pleasing to Him. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God as an omniscient, omnipotent
Creator knows what is best for us. The church must return to its first love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don't want to continue along the lines that
we are currently going down. We wonder why we are losing our influence in the world. We wonder why we are losing our children, and we wonder why we are losing the battle against Satan.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ephesians 6:12 “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but
against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of
this darkness, against the spiritual <i>hosts</i> of wickedness in the heavenly
<i>places</i>.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></div>
deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-45097455944732042392019-05-20T11:47:00.001-05:002019-05-20T11:47:57.188-05:00Fishers of Men<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We cannot force someone to hear a message they are not ready to receive, but we must never underestimate the power of planting a seed."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mark 1:15 "And saying, <span style="color: #cb2026;">The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. </span>16) Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17) And Jesus said unto them, <span style="color: #cb2026;">Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.</span> 18) And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. 19) And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20) And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.<br />21) And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How can we add to this? Jesus the master teacher, the master in every way, teaching the message. Yet, all that heard him didn't obey. Yes, many came out to follow him: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">John 6:14 "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">15) When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone."<br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">John 6:24 "When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.<br />25) And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?<br />26) Jesus answered them and said, <span style="color: #cb2026;">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled."</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cb2026;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How many fell away and how many eventually returned?<span style="color: #cb2026;"> </span>God knows. He knows their names, he knows our names.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No, we can't force someone to listen to the message or to understand and obey the message. We are sowers only, the harvest isn't ours to discern.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #f57b2f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 Corinthians 3:6 "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." </span></span></span></div>
deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-76871800732951965672019-03-25T19:29:00.000-05:002019-03-25T19:29:57.390-05:00The Father's Eyes<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>We don't exist as God does. Like the eagle aloft on the wings of the wind, soaring and riding the air currents, God is above all things. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I wonder how other people live without doubts. For some reason no matter what my age my unbelief clouds my judgment. Oh, ye of little faith wasn't said only to the early disciples/apostles. Yet, I don't believe I am alone in this matter of guilt. Doubts make many of us ineffective. We need to see with clear eyes of faith.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Even when we KNOW that God answers prayer in three ways: Sometimes he says, 'yes', sometimes, 'no', and sometimes, 'wait'. It is in His time, not ours. And there is the rub. The fly in the ointment. We truly are God's children, and like children, we want what we want right now. We need to see with the clear eyes of faith and without hypocrisy.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Matthew 7:3 "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4) Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? 5) Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>There isn't any hope for us. No, not that we're hopeless, but we know better, yet we don't. What should we pray for? Maybe I've at last acquired some wisdom, but I'm not keen on patience. I don't want patience. Every time I have prayed for patience I've gotten trials and tribulations. Yes, we need to wait in patience, but what we need more are the eyes of the Father. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God's eyes see eternity, but may He as well remember (as it is written in Psalms 103:13) "Like as a father pitieth his children, So Jehovah pitieth them that fear him. 14) For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Jeremiah 29:11) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.12) And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14) And I will be found of you, saith Jehovah..."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Remember us for good, oh, Jehovah. Remember our lives here are short, and as Jacob told Pharoah, "And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, ... few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage." Genesis 47:9 </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Hallelujah! What a Savior!</b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-63431097589932033122019-03-23T17:34:00.000-05:002019-03-23T17:34:21.640-05:00Broken Cisterns Without Water<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Modern amenities and my early life don't go on the same line. I have often written about our water situation at my grandparent's farm. The only 'running water' we had was when we took a bucket down the hill to the well, pumped it full, and ran back up the hill with it. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was our drinking water. We thought that was a clever joke, but that was the way it went.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the early days of this country, the proximity of the distance between water and the house was important. Water is a necessary component in our life, and it's crucial for a good life.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, <span style="color: red;">If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also in John 4:6 it reads: and Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7) There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, <span style="color: red;">Give me to drink. </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This, of course, is the springboard for Jesus' exchange with the Samaritan woman in which he tells her <span style="color: red;">"Everyone that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14) but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life." </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Water, so very important and crucial. Besides our well at the bottom of the hill, we also had a clever way to save rainwater for soft water for household use. There was a system of drain pipes to catch and direct rainwater from off of the house, through a drain spout, and into a large, underground cement tank. It was completely tight, not accessible except by a cement lid that could be slid off the twelve to maybe 36 inch top. This large underground cement tank was called a cistern. </span></b><div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the spring, after a snowy winter, it would sometimes be overrunning. I'm not sure how many gallons of water it held, but it was several hundred gallons. We had a house pump that pumped water from this cistern into a nice sized three to four-foot sink that drained into a bucket. The water that came from this cistern we used for bathing, washing dishes, washing clothes— anything that you would use soft water for today. We did not use it for drinking.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During some summers our water situation was iffy. When we didn't receive rain (semi-drought), both of our water sources became scarce. My grandmother is remembered for her words of wisdom, and some of those words went: watch the water. Which meant 'our supply is low so do not waste the water'. We knew the worth of water back in those days. You didn't just turn on a faucet and voila' there it was. The drinking water was carried to the house. Even the soft water had to be pumped and carried.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>John 4:15 "The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come all the way hither to draw."</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jeremiah 2:11 Hath a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12) Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith Jehovah. 13) For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This nation needs to turn back to the God on which our foundation has been built. We need to stop floundering between broken people who think they know something and want to impose their broken philosophy on everyone else and the fountain of living water. Broken cisterns will not hold water. They are useless not just in the drought but all year long.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></b></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-15407356909751269742018-12-15T16:40:00.001-06:002018-12-15T16:42:06.373-06:00We Don't Always Know<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Life is a journey. Day by day, step by step, we make many choices along the way. Our aim should be to live each day without regrets. To live and do the right thing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But life happens along the way, and there are some choices that lead places we never foresee. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Psalms 5:8 "Lead me, O Jehovah, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; Make thy way straight before my face."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm not just squeamish about heights, I flat don't do them. So, I'm in Jamaica, and the first few days some of us are tying rebar columns for the building we're working on. Then I get the news that we will next be working on the roof of said building. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm thinking to myself, what a revolting development this is. I've done mission work in other countries, but I've never been asked to work on a roof—like climb a ladder and etc. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, it is a flat roof, but it has edges, and then it has a drop. Since, however, I didn't travel all this way to sit and watch, I took it real slow, going up a few rungs at a time. Getting used to that and finally, I got to the top step. Some kind soul helped me make the transition onto the roof. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And we were in business. We </span><span style="font-size: large;">were </span><span style="font-size: large;">still tying rebar, but it went on the roof. There are several things about building in places that must be hurricane and earthquake proof. Or as close as possible to it. There is a lot of rebar and concrete in one of those structures.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm sure I've said this before, but we spent two weeks working there, and one of our co-laborers was a new Christian, by the name of Jerry, with a last name I wouldn't try to spell, who came from somewhere around the east coast. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Just as Jesus' apostles were a conglomeration of unlikely souls, </span><span style="font-size: large;">these mission situations pull together a number of improbable cohorts. When you look at a person, you make judgements, and that isn't bad, it just isn't very often accurate. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, you can come up with a close appraisal of different aspects of a person, but there are gaps. This new Christian currently was employed as a salesman of some sort. He wasn't a big bulky guy. On the contrary, he was slight of build, under six foot tall, and somewhat wiry.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What you couldn't see was his character and... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"If you'd told me when I was eighteen that I'd ever be working on a roof, in a foreign country, I'd a told you, you were as crazy as a loon," I tell Jerry as he and I are spacing and tying rebar on the roof, preparing for the concrete to be poured the next morning.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He laughs and tells me, "If you'd asked me what I'd be doing at this stage of my life, I would have said I'd be working in some dive on an island somewhere in the Pacific." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unlikely people in an unlikely spot. Life's journey isn't always the smooth path we think it will be. As my mother used to say, 'Figure long and figure wrong.' We can plan and plan, but God still rules the nations. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Psalms 27:11 "Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; And lead me in a plain path, Because of mine enemies. </span><span style="font-size: large;">12) Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries: For false witnesses are risen up against me, And such as breathe out cruelty. </span><span style="font-size: large;">13) I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of Jehovah In the land of the living. </span><span style="font-size: large;">14) Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, And let thy heart take courage; Yea, </span><span style="font-size: large;">wait</span><span style="font-size: large;"> thou for Jehovah. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Psalms 43:3 "Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me: Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, And to thy tabernacles." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></div>
deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-8361849993008610552018-11-26T21:15:00.000-06:002018-11-26T21:15:15.649-06:00Changed Forever<span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">"You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,</span><br />
<span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Know when to walk away and know when to run.</span><br />
<span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.</span><br />
<span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">"Now Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'</span><br />
<span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.</span><br />
<span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,</span><br />
<span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep. "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Gambler, Songwriter, Don Schlitz</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's some advice. 'Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.' Life is like a gamble, and often we are like the gambler, or we feel like the gambler.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The gambler in the song had learned more than he wanted to in life. There is some wisdom in the rest of the chorus: never count your money sittin' at the table—don't get arrogant or foolish. There are some things you need to keep to yourself. People aren't all that honest in the 'gambling' scene. If they can take what you have, you may well be running for your life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To people like myself, who aren't particularly good poker players, we don't understand how it is possible to win with a losing hand. However, someone who is experienced, someone whose livelihood is and depends on being a winner more often than being a loser does know how.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I admire George Washington Carver and Madam CJ Walker. These two were born at a time when the cards were stacked against them. Yet they did well, often relying on the leading of the Lord. They persevered and through diligence and hard work made a success of their lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luck of the draw? That's what it is sometimes referred to as— sometimes it is. Most often it has to do with a mix of being at the right place at the right time and applying a bit of elbow grease and gumption. As anonymous said, "The reason most people do not recognize an opportunity when they meet it is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like Hard Work."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lives can be agreeable or disagreeable, but as the saying goes, life circumstances are temporary. Enjoy the good times when they are pleasant, be thankful for them. Endure and learn from the problems and tangles, but take heart because they are temporary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Character— good character is forged in the trials of life, and are made by the constant exercise of making right decisions. Life is made up of costly decisions. Some people will choose to win, some will choose to lose. It depends on us and how we play our hands. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ecclesiastes 8:6 "Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7) For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8) There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ecclesiastes 7:1 "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-38580091659024727922018-10-24T20:23:00.000-05:002018-10-24T20:23:19.873-05:00Oh, That Men Would Praise Him<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps you knew that you are responsible toward God to believe the truth? You are also called to not believe a lie. In other words, if you believe a lie you will be held responsible for that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1Kings 13:1 "And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Jehovah unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. 2) And he cried against the altar by the word of Jehovah, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith Jehovah: Behold, a son shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he sacrifice the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall they burn upon thee." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here we have the account of a young prophet of God sent by Jehovah to the new King Jeroboam, king of half of Israel. He decided to make idols and places of worship in his half of the kingdom, and God was not happy. So, he sent a prophet. Jeroboam didn't like what the prophet had to say and put forth his hand to capture him. His arm was struck by judgment from God and Jeroboam changed his mind, inviting the young prophet (who had healed Jeroboam's arm) home for refreshments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1Kings 13:8 "And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thy house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place; 9) for so was it charged me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Thou shalt eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that thou camest."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here we have a young prophet who preached against what King Jeroboam had done and the golden calves he had made. The King wants him to come home with him, but the young prophet says, no, Jehovah has said do not stay here or eat bread or whatnot and he leaves to go home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But here's where the plot thickens. 1Kings 13:11 tells us: "Now there dwelt an old prophet in Beth-el; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beth-el...1Ki 13:13 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass; and he rode thereon. 14) And he went after the man of God, and found him "</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the old prophet heard about the young prophet, he follows him, and he finds him. The old prophet invites the young prophet to come home with him for a meal. The young prophet repeats that no, he can't come home, he has to leave because that's what Jehovah had instructed him to do. But the old prophet has news for the young prophet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1Kings 13:18 "And he said unto him, I also am a prophet as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The young prophet believes him, goes home and eats with him, then the old prophet tells him... As they are sitting at meat the old prophet has more news for the young man:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1Kings 13:21 "and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Forasmuch as thou hast been disobedient unto the mouth of Jehovah, and hast not kept the commandment which Jehovah thy God commanded thee, 22) but camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy body shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as the young prophet leaves to go back to Judah a lion comes upon him and the young prophet is killed. The old prophet hears about it and brings his body back and buries him in his own sepulchre. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2Kings 23:16 "And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount; and he sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Jehovah which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. 17) Then he said, What monument is that which I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, who came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Beth-el. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many years later when King Josiah (the king of the prophecy) is ruling in Jerusalem and is purging the land of the idols this prophecy of the young prophet is fulfilled. I don't know why the old prophet lied to him. Maybe because since the young prophet had a monument and his bones were left alone, the old prophet figured his would be left alone as well: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2Kings 23:18 "And he said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psa 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good. 10) Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11) Because they rebelled against the words of God, And contemned the counsel of the Most High: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12) Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13) Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">14) He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">15) Oh, that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! 16) For he hath broken the gates of brass, And cut the bars of iron in sunder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">17) Fools because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, are afflicted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></div>
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<br />deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-25063103606198787212018-09-14T20:17:00.000-05:002018-09-14T20:17:23.583-05:00God is Not Dead<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was a headline or a poster quite a few years ago that affirmed that God was dead. I don't know if the author of that particular headline ever came to realize their mistake, or if he/she carried it into eternity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Acts 14:15 "and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: 16) who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17) And yet He left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In reading a short excerpt from a Memoir by Clarence Thomas, Judge Thomas related how his father and grandfather believed you should live the life you are dealt. Not that a person can't better their life but at that time there were forces out there promoting violence as a way to overcome race problems. Don't go to college, don't get an education, and do not go quietly... This was in conflict with what Clarence was told at home, and I for one am so glad that he listened to the voices of reason.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have not read his book, but it is on my list. The statement 'live the life you're dealt' brings up some thoughts. I don't know the story of the original author of the 'God is Dead' motif. I don't know who, what, or why this person felt this way. It seems that it was at the time of the 'hippie' revolution when unknowing young people felt the need to assert their independence. These people would make shocking statements just to shock people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have seen people who appear to have a rough hand dealt to them. Like the father who named his first son 'Winner' and his second son 'Loser', just to find out if a name predicted a person's outcome. In that instance, it did not. 'Win' went on to never succeed, and 'Lou' (as Loser was dubbed) did well in his life, retiring from the position of being an honored police sheriff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being angry with God for the life we are dealt is futile. God is not dead, we can look around and see that regardless of our circumstances what God has given each of us. As it says in verse seventeen above; 17) "And yet He left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In thinking over the pictures I've seen of the 1960s and the young people of that era, they seem like kids on a rebellion streak. They didn't want restraint of any kind. I'm sure there were older Christians who were sure these kids were prophesied of in Timothy:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2Timothy 3:1 "But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2) For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3) without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The '60s leached over into the '70s and '80s—like infinity and beyond. Our younger generations have not been reclaimed. The revolution continues, fanned by the 'authority' figures such as college professors that arose from that time frame and subsequent eras. Those in the religious communities have been losing their young people to the world as they graduate from high school. But here we are wondering what has happened and how we lost this generation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think we lost them because we lost ourselves first. I was not raised as a Christian, so that was against me. My husband was raised as a Methodist, but he wasn't serious about it. We both came of age during the late 60s early 70s, and rebellion was everywhere. It might have been in the water, but definitely was in the air. I don't know if there was any remedy for it. Public school has trained kids to seek the approval of their peers. No one wants to be a stand out from the crowd. We are conditioned to fit in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would tell parents today stop attempting to fit in. Pull back from the crowd and teach your children to get used to being unique. Especially if Christian parents want their children to remain Christian. As one of my children said the other day, I want my kids to be smart enough they don't want/choose to go to college.</span><br />
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James 1:5 "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6) But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed."</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></div>
deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-73095241986753309832018-09-06T19:20:00.000-05:002018-09-17T23:17:36.309-05:00 There is no Peace<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One summer I was planning on studying Latin. All the further I got was Pax Vobiscum and one or two other phrases which I've managed to forget. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pax Vobiscum- peace be with you. In these days it is as if peace has evaporated. I would like to think that most of us would choose to live peaceful lives, yet for some reason, it is as the song says, 'No tranquil joys on earth I know, No peaceful, sheltering dome; This world's a wilderness of woe, this world is not my home'. |</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jeremiah 8:11 "And they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> America was founded on the idea of liberty and justice in law. However, as in any society, it is a burden upon its citizens to be self-regulating. Under the ten laws of the Old Testament, the first four laws dealt with man's duty toward God, and the second six laws dealt with neighbor to neighbor laws. Or in other words how God expects his citizens to behave toward his laws, and how he expects his citizens to deal with each other. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark 12:29 "Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: 30) and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. 31) The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jesus calls to remembrance Deuteronomy 6:4 &5 out of the Old Law, which the Jews would be familiar with, and this is a summary as our Lord says 'there is none other commandment greater than these', or on these two commandments hangeth the whole law. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love God and love your neighbor. That's it in a nutshell. Not so difficult is it? Yet as Trey Gowdy said in a speech at Second Baptist Woodway, Christianity is hard. And he quoted G.K. Chesterton's words, "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried ."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are living in days of chaos and turmoil. Where do we go when our country's laws break down? In one of the campaign debates, then-candidate Trump was asked how do you address breakdowns in society such as Ferguson? and his response was, 'rule of law'. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That is exactly what is needed in response to anti-fa, and white supremacists, and black supremacists, or all of these terrorist groups. If common people are constantly afraid of being attacked and aren't safe as they go about their business something needs to be done to protect them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Former Governor Mike Huckabee had a piece about taking his family to the Holocaust museum in Germany and how he was concerned about his young daughter, who was perhaps eleven at the time. There were some horrible gruesome images depicting the happenings of those days. He was afraid she would not understand. She stopped to sign the guest book as they were leaving and he stopped to read what she had written:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A good question for all of us in this troubled time. 1Chronicles 12:32 "And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do..." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Often this is the problem, not knowing what to do. We can become paralyzed because we don't know what to do. When we spend time in prayer, lots of time in prayer, we get unexpected answers. In these troublesome times, we need to all be prayer warriors. Stand up, oh men of God, and— Ephesians 6:18 "...with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints," </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a savior!</span></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-573929865408349972018-08-23T12:11:00.000-05:002018-08-23T12:11:24.320-05:00Why Do We Care? Or Do We...<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Proverbs 26:17 "He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today we might say it as, Not my monkey, not my circus. It's a humorous way of saying 'It's none of my business.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luke 10:29 ' But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 30) Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31) And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32) And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34) and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35) And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee. 36) Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers? 37) And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is where the phrase 'Good Samaritan' comes from. In Jesus' time, Samaritans were looked down upon. They had been some of the people from other nations that had been brought in to the land of Judah at the time of the Babylonian captivity. Nebuchadnezzer was the Babylonian king that conquered the land of Judah. His reign occurred from approximately 605-562 B.C. His practice was to take the captured people and spread them around throughout his kingdom, never leaving enough of a group of people together in one place to prevent an uprising against his rule. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus strangers were brought in from different nations to occupy the land. These people intermingled with the remnant of Jews who had been left in the land, marrying their sons and daughters. This was strictly forbidden under the law of Moses, but such things never stopped the Jews. This created a spirit of animosity between the strict keepers of the law and the Samaritans. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suffice it to say that Jesus took an opportunity to teach that there is a time and a place to make something our business. The priest and the Levite, both supposedly holy men in God's service, had already passed by as far away as they could away from the Jewish man. The Samaritan stopped and helped. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not advocating stopping and helping people alongside the road. Years ago we did often stop, and sometimes we still do, but with the advent of the cell phone, most people do have help on the way. What I'm looking at is in today's society we often hear the phrase, "don't judge me. The scriptures tell us not to judge", and so forth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What we have here are people who only know one or two verses of scripture, and those are the ones on 'don't judge'. The scriptures don't tell us not to judge at all, but not to judge with hypocrisy. That doesn't mean we have to wait until we are perfect to be able to tell someone that something they are doing is right or wrong. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was in middle school a song called Harper Valley PTA became popular. It was about—if I remember right, a young widow being told by certain members of her community (Harper Valley PTA) that certain things she was doing weren't right. And in the end, she, the widowed woman, Mrs. Johnson, tells the local PTA their sins and they are just a bunch of hypocrites.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were a number of wrongs in this song and in this scenario. None of these people on either hand were competent or compassionate judges. One wrong was the sins of those pointing the first finger, but that finger does not excuse the honorable 'Mrs. Johnson' in her sin. Part of the problem is that we all are part and parcel of society. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We ought to have a say in the standards of that society. In order to form a more moral society, we need better standards. That doesn't mean we should judge harshly or be hypocritical. It does mean we should be able to use good standards for all people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we decide we don't want people walking around with their breeches down around their knees and their underwear hanging out then no one would be exempt. Not men or women. There was at one time a 'foul language ban'. There used to be community standards, some were enforced some were not. At one point some were enforced then became obsolete and are still on the books. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't wish anyone ill, but the phrase, 'what I do in my bedroom is no one else's business', doesn't cut it anymore. We have come to realize who we are in private influences who we are in public. Second place, when people start bringing what they do out of not just their closet but out of their bedroom and parading it down the street it becomes societies' business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the above-mentioned song what the 'hypocrites' did in private (they weren't parading around publicly) influenced Mrs. Johnson to flaunt her sin publicly. We have currently the closet society that has 'come out' publicly. Now we have child love arguments for that twisted behavior. These are both wrong, just as adultery and fornication are wrong. And we need to be able to say so. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are a number of things that on the surface don't look to be any of my business but they are because as the poem says 'no man is an island'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Genesis 4:9 "And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior! </span></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-80876090856161507572018-08-08T19:21:00.000-05:002018-08-08T19:21:55.024-05:00On the Wrong Bus?A few years ago I heard of a passenger who ended up on the wrong airplane. There was quite a kerfuffle, and I don't remember when or how it got sorted out. I can't for the life of me understand how such a thing happened. However, most of us have had times we've been lost, or in the wrong place.<br />
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A few weeks ago several of us at church were chatting when the subject of going the wrong way on a one-way street came up. It was a small group, but most had that experience. What was surprising is that no one had been injured or caused an accident.<br />
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I was in my early thirties and on my way to a doctor's appointment when I turned one light too early and found myself on the one-way street. What to do? My initial response was that I should make a U-turn so I'd be driving in the right direction. Since there wasn't any traffic, it would have worked, but I didn't do that because I thought maybe I would get rear-ended by a car behind me...<br />
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Okay, that wasn't my sharpest moment. Point number one there was no traffic coming toward me—that was good news. Number two, I was going the wrong way, and God forbid anyone should be following me.<br />
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Luke 15:11 "And he said, <span style="color: red;">A certain man had two sons: 12) and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13) And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living. 14) And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.</span>"<br />
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Most of us know the parable of the 'Lost Boy,' or better known a 'the Prodigal Son'. The son that thought he knew better than his father. The young man took all his inheritance and got away from home and family. He was FREE! Of course, it's the old story of fair-weather friends that helped him spend all of his money on wine, women, and riotous living. When the money was gone so were they. He scrambled to find anything to feed himself, and so he was hired to feed the hogs. When he hit bottom, he thought about home and family and decided to go home and become a servant in his father's house. But what about those he left behind? <br />
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Luke 15:20 "<span style="color: red;">And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.</span>"<br />
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It has been suggested that the father was watching for him; longing for him to come home. Having had children leave the nest, I know that does happen for a time. Yet after a time, be it weeks, months, or years, a parent has to come to grips that your bus travels on, and for the moment that child isn't on your bus. <br />
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Never-the-less, the father saw him coming and ran to greet him. Welcomed him home, and reclothed him, put new shoes on his feet, rings on his fingers and whatnot, as if he'd not left. Took his son back as a son, not as a servant. <br />
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There are two major decisions in life we each must make. The first is whether to become a Christian. As long as you're on that bus, you're heading in the right direction. I know people who choose to follow their own way tooling down the road of life. They see nothing special about the Christian bus, but as we studied in Vacation Bible School this year Jesus said:<br />
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John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, <span style="color: red;">I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.</span>"<br />
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The second major decision is if and who you choose to marry. When you're on the Christian bus you want someone who will help you on your journey, and ultimately someone who will spend eternity with you and Jesus. It is said that as a Christian you will not go to heaven alone. The sad thing is that as a non-believer you won't go to hell alone either.<br />
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If you're on the wrong bus get off now. Nothing really matters as to how what when or why you are on that bus. What matters is that you get off that bus and get on the right one. Remember the Father wants you to come home.<br />
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Hallelujah! What a Savior!</div>
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<br />deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-36535970867230757522018-06-09T20:58:00.000-05:002018-06-09T20:58:28.265-05:00Not Forever<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No human person is perfect. I've known some who had a lot of perfection about them, but none of them had perfection down perfect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And no one or thing on this earth or in this life is forever. Many people struggle with these two aspects of life here on this globe. How many times do people say, 'You can't judge me, you're not perfect.' </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That brings to my mind this story: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"A priest and a pastor are standing by the side of a road holding up a sign that reads “The end is near! Turn around now before it’s too late!”<br /><br />A passing driver yells, “You guys are nuts!” and speeds past them. From around the curve, they hear screeching tires—then a big splash.<br /><br />The priest turns to the pastor and says, “Do you think we should just put up a sign that says ‘Bridge Out’ instead?"<br /><br />Side note here, someone suggested this ending: The pastor answers, "No, I think we need another sign that says--"You're almost there, speed up...". </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are times when no matter how you try to help people, they just take offence. Do we have to be perfect to tell people what they're doing is not going to work? In day to day situations the only thing to do is stand back and let them do it their own way. Sometimes there is a second chance when it doesn't work out, but most often there isn't, and in the end it just is what it is. So, we're not perfect, and our body isn't eternal. There of course is the rub. Our spirit will continue on eternally. Our clay earthen vessels will some day wear out and return to dust—as they say 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."Genesis 3:19 But 'You're almost there, speed up,' is a very poor choice as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It makes me very sad when I go to a funeral and the survivors all praise the deceased for living their lives and 'doing it their own way'. That's all well and good on this side of eternity, but the survivors can't see the spirit that has left the clay vessel. The vessel is like the shell of a katydid, a butterfly, or any creature that forms a new outward being, and it's the left behind thing. Perhaps the spirit is pleading that the survivors won't follow his/her example. Pleading that those left behind will heed God's warnings and God's Words. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can't do it our way, unless our way is God's way first. This is the sad fact of this life. An even sadder fact is that if all of us would do it God's way our lives would all be better. It begs the question, since God is perfect, He can judge us (and will one day), the person saying "You can't judge me, you're not perfect," isn't being quite honest are they... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> In the last few years we've had a number of prominent people who've committed suicide. With the last person's death some have come out and blasted the person for their selfish act. </span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">first off, yes it is selfish. At least it's thoughtless for our loved ones who will have to deal with the aftermath</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">second, not knowing why the person saw this as a solution, blasting them and calling them selfish is like trying to close the door after the cat has escaped</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">third, reaching out before the person comes to that point is crucial. Let me repeat, before they reach that point</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and final, blasting a dead person for anything is fruitless, and in its own way selfish</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is an excerpt from my upcoming book<b> "<i>If I Should Die"</i></b>. Ruth's mother had been murdered two years earlier, and the exchange goes like this:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ruth broke the mesmerizing
silence. “Thank you for the fries and shake—and for all you’ve done, Julius.
We’ve been praying about this matter for a long, long time. We try to fix
everything ourselves, and when we can’t then we take it to God. We should take
it to Him first.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What about your
mother?” Seth asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Excuse me?” She
raised her eyebrows. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Shouldn’t God
have done something to save her?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The important
thing isn’t that we will die, or how we will die, the crucial thing is our
spiritual condition when we die. Mom obeyed the Lord Jesus. Evil didn’t destroy
her faith.” Ruth frowned, and examined her hands as they lay in her lap. “I
miss my mother, but we can’t turn back time.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“There are no
magic wands in life.” Julius looked sideways at Seth. “You shouldn’t allow
Satan to sidetrack your mission.” Julius glanced in the mirror at Ruth. “The
question goes, ‘if God is so powerful, why do bad things happen’? We live in an
uncertain world. One that Eve and Adam chose—sometimes bad things happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>“True. There are
no guarantees, and our spiritual condition trumps everything else,” Seth said.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-57992088262701566122018-06-03T21:25:00.003-05:002018-06-03T21:25:52.734-05:00Dues Vult / God wills it<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I found the comment to be intriguing:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Walsh is correct. Modern churches have done their utmost to become all things to everyone, and in their homogeneous wanderings, have lost sight of the core principals of Christianity. <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Values. Honor. Respect. Sacrifice. Perseverance. Decency. Tradition. <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">To stand against evil, even in the face of death.</i></b> These are the things the Bible teaches, and our Faith demands. Until we return to the <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">foundations</i> of our Faith, darkness will continue to run rampant in this world."</span></div>
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<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The comment was taken from an article by Matt Walsh, and was labeled Marty P and Deus Vult, lest I be accused of not giving credit where credit is due.</span></span></b></i></div>
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<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">That observation coupled with this </span></b></i>quote is by G.K. Chesterton<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">:</span></b></i></span></div>
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<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
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<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ G.K. Chesterton</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Resonated with me as I read and hear so many in the Christian community trying to analyze why we are losing so many of our young people into the world. Hello, my brothers and sisters in Christ. If you line most of our Christian youngsters up alongside their worldly peers you honestly can't pick them out of the group. They are shuffled off to the same secular day-care centers, eventually to be shuffled into the same secular schools. They are taught the same secular (and in some cases horrid nonsense) of public schools, and we wonder at their turning away from what we perceive to be Christianity. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">At it's core Christianity is a giving up of one's self:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #2a2e2e; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matthew 16:24 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2e2e; font-size: 15px;">We haven't taught our children to sacrifice for Christ, in word or deed. Those in authority are afraid to teach their members on this as well. Often we hear platitudes about sacrificing, but that is as far as it goes. Look at the list in the above comment: </span><b style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2e2e; font-size: 15px;">Values. Honor. Respect. Sacrifice. Perseverance. Decency. Tradition. <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">To stand against evil, even in the face of death.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, well, 'Values'. What does it mean, Values? Perhaps honor and respect could be the first of the values?</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2) <b>Honor</b> thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise)," </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Timothy 5:17 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Romans 13:7 "Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor."</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sacrifice? I've been in this situation more times than I can list. You are at a different congregation, or in a different scenery at least. After introductions, invariably the question is asked, 'What do you do? What kind of work are you involved in? It is seldom thought that as a wife that your number one 'job', would be in the home. And if you answer, "I work at home" there is a void. Everyone knows what you do 'in the home', so what would the next question be? There is a plethora of questions and conversations that could follow, but it is so seldom that we get that answer most of us don't know what to do with it. What does this have to do with sacrifice? Historically men have been the 'breadwinners' of the family, and families lived on what the goodman brought home. Made do with what they had. Now, of course prices are so high there is no way families can make do with less than two incomes. To live on one income would require...sacrifice. And indeed, it would be a sacrifice, I don't say that lightly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It would show that we value something above money. That we would rather obey and follow scriptural principles than sell our soul to the highest bidder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, honor and sacrifice would be a beginning, followed by perseverance, decency, and even tradition. How important is our faith? How important are our children, and that they be taught truth? How important that they be taught to stand against evil, even in the face of death? If we can't or won't stop following the crowd, do we really expect our children to do so?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<b>These are the things the Bible teaches, and our Faith demands. Until we return to the <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">foundations</i> of our Faith, darkness will continue to run rampant in this world."</b></span></div>
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<i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The comment taken from the article by Matt Walsh, from Marty P (Deus Vult), is on the mark. I don't know who this person was, but unless we as Christians stop howling in anger against those who would try to tell us the truth and turn back to following the Lord, we're doomed.</span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2e2e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2e2e;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Philippians 4:12 "I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. </span></span><span style="color: #2a2e2e; font-size: 15px;">13) I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #2a2e2e; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior! </span></span></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-88526248769875112482018-05-19T00:16:00.000-05:002018-05-19T00:17:17.362-05:00The Princess That Could Not Cry~<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Books, in our upstairs at my grandparent's there were all sorts of books. I honestly don't remember learning to read--I remember looking at the pictures. Drawings of kids from the nineteen thirties accompanying poems such as: <span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I have a little doggy who used to sit and beg, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but doggy tumbled down the stairs and broke his little <span style="text-align: left;">leg..." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">Hopeful that this works. I'm not a computer geek, nor do I understand computers at all. So, why I cannot get the alignment setting to reset from center back to normal I have no idear. Sigh, and roll eyes here. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">Back to the story about stories. Somehow, not learning to read, just knowing how to read. My cousin Coco and I used to laugh at one book in particular with the name 'Excuse My Dust'. I don't know what it was about, and I would like now to take a closer look at it, but alas, it has gone the way of the world. There were classics, and Readers from a different school era. Most of those appeared to be from a Catholic school curriculum. An oddity, because no one except my Uncle Matt had ever been Catholic, and I'm sure they weren't his. I still have in my possession some of those dear readers. I think I should have memorized them I read them so many times. There was 'The Caliph's Wonderful Clock', 'Cinder Lad', even a 'Saint George, the Dragon Slayer'. One that has stuck in my mind was, 'The Princess Who Could Not Cry'. It was exactly that, about a princess that no matter what happened would laugh. The King and Queen did all they could think of to get her to cry, they even called in experts and offered a reward to that end. It was all to no avail. At last a 'good wife' came to them carrying a medium sized covered basket. Everyone was curious, but no one imagined this pleasant middle aged woman would meet with success. Much to their surprise within half an hour they heard sobs coming from the palace kitchen. They opened the door to find the princess in tears...peeling onions. The common village 'good wife' had won the reward. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">You may think this pleasant story has no spiritual application, but...countless times in my life I've heard the admonition that as Christians we are supposed to be joyful--always--because we have a glorious God, a wonderful Savior, and the Holy Spirit for an intercessor. But sometimes life gives us onions, and while we may not spend our lives peeling onions, some days even the most cheeriest amongst us may have our moments of sadness, hurt, pain. The phrase 'we live in a fallen world', has a Biblical basis. Romans 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">The whole creation is waiting for redemption. We are to help the downtrodden, and one thing a person who is suffering doesn't need to hear is that all they need to do is cheer up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Matthew 26:75 "And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Peter wept bitterly over his sin and betrayal. There are times when we should weep bitterly as well. As long as we lay it before the Lord and leave it there. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luke 19:41 "And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jesus wept over the sins of Jerusalem, their hard unrepentant heart, and we should weep for those same things for our nation, and world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John 11:35 "Jesus wept."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All I know of this is that Jesus 'groaned' in His spirit. Was it his love for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, or because of their lack of understanding, or something else? Maybe all three </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ecclesiastes 3:1 "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:... 4) a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn..." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Therefore, let us take to heart the following admonitions to help the helpless, weak, and poor amongst us. Be not high minded, we never know when it may be our turn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">James 5:13 "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14) Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span><span style="text-align: left;"></span><span style="text-align: left;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-63345453934360356492018-05-07T08:19:00.000-05:002018-05-07T08:23:37.006-05:00Compassion vs. Communism<ul>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price...and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? <span style="color: orange;">While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power?</span> How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? <span style="color: orange;">thou has not lied unto men, but unto God.</span> (Acts 5:1-4 ASV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a lesson of a man and wife who sold property and wanted to look like they had given all of the money to the Apostles. The husband first brought the money and pretended he gave the whole amount, Peter called chastised him on his lie and Ananias falls down dead; next the wife comes in and is asked if this was the amount paid them. Yes, she said, and the same thing happens to her, because of their lie to God. Their sin was not for keeping part of the money, but for LYING to God about it. As Peter said, "While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power?" Here's a secondary lesson in here.You can fool people sometimes, but you can never fool God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is a rise in our country today lifting up 'socialism' as a shining example, and over the years some have used the early church, after Pentecost, and said it was socialistic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Acts 2:43 "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">45) and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. 46) And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This was a period of learning and growing in the fledgling church, but it wasn't a forever situation. The growing of the church in Jerusalem lasted until the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Act 8:2 "And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. 3) But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison. 4) They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God doesn't condone socialism. Socialism is anti-God. Government replaces God, and becomes a god.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This passage in 2 Corinthians tells how we ought to give to God. Not as of necessity, but of willingness, because God loveth a cheerful giver. We ought to care for those less fortunate as well, but not with a gun held to our head as happens under socialism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2Corinthians 9:5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion. 6) But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7) Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God does expect us to be compassionate<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">on others who can't help themselves. It isn't compassion to encourage those who can work and take care of themselves and their own families to become idle and worthless. <br /><br /> 1Timothy 5:8 "But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Apostle Paul informs the Thessalonians:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat. For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ASV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Socialism tries to make everyone equal, but the equality only extends as far as misery; everyone is equally miserable. </span></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-52632490691964909812018-04-26T20:08:00.001-05:002018-04-26T20:12:28.498-05:00Left Behind?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I sit in my pew on a Sunday afternoon I am thankful. There are many things I'm thankful for, of course, but this particular moment I'm thankful we're a small 'country' congregation. We're family and friends here at our particular group. If we're family, we're friendly family, and if we're friends, we're friendly friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I digress, however, because where I am thankful for our relationships here, it is brought on as I see on the floor toward the front of the building something, perhaps a coat or a sweater that some little person has left behind in their dash to their pew (or was it to the rest room?).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As apparently is true for most women one thought leads to another. I began to muse on the idea of age, time, life, and how many things we as human beings 'leave behind'. Step by step as we grow older we leave our younger self behind. Some of those things are better left behind. In growing older we learn to walk, run, dress ourselves, social behaviors, and so on until eventually we learn to be an adult. As adults we leave things behind, and not all of it is childish behavior and not all should be left behind. The scripture tells us two aspects of these things. This first one is becoming a responsible adult:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11 ASV)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Childish behaviors are things we ought to put away. On the flip side, there are several aspects of little children we should retain. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Matthew 18:2 "And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, 3) and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark 10:14 "But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. 15) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luke 18:17 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The aspect here is that children are teachable, receptive, and humble. As we become adults we often leave behind humility. Some other things we leave behind are: faith, trust, love and kindness. We lose our sense of wonder at the creations of God—the world in which we live, and the creatures that God formed and placed here. We lose the ability to ask how and why things work. Life settles in and we get set in our ways, but the saddest is when we lose our ability to dream. The ability to enjoy the small pleasures in our lives. We can't fully enjoy the larger things in our lives until we learn the lesson of enjoying the smaller things. The phrase 'carpe diem' means to seize the moment—Not to diminish the future, but to savor what we are blessed with at the moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is easy to become sarcastic, to see life through cynical eyes—Eyes of doubt, distrust, and disbelief. We need to put that away. Leave that behind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The story is told of a father checking on his young son one morning. He reached the hall just outside his son's bedroom as his son opened his eyes and sat up. The first word out of his mouth that morning was, "WOW" as he stared at the world around him. This struck a chord in the father's heart. When he retold the story he encouraged his audience to have a child's heart and a child's eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior! </span></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-30991709799108269682018-04-19T09:51:00.001-05:002018-04-19T09:53:30.771-05:00Who Am I?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Bible class we used to play the 'Who Am I' game. I had little Gingerbread men figures with questions on the back. I'd hold them up and the first question was usually the 'hard' question then there were at least two more questions. It might have started out with: "My father's name was Terah." #2 could have been, "I had two brothers, Nahor and Haran." If they still hadn't gotten it #3 could have been "God called me out of Ur of Chaldees." The beginning question was always, 'Who Am I?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, <span style="color: red;">Who do men say that the Son of man is?</span> And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." (Matthew 16:13-14 ASV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes we hear people today talking about Jesus. They are still giving different answers. Some may say, "He was a good man." Others have said, "He was crazy, or he was a deceiver." However, there are several factors that should be examined before a conclusion is made.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Matthew 16:15: "He saith unto them, <span style="color: red;">But who say ye that I am?</span>" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">16) "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 17) "And Jesus answered and said unto him, <span style="color: red;">Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, those closest to Jesus confessed that he was the Christ the Son of the living God. Not only did they confess,but they lived and died for that confession. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jesus says in verse 18 that 'upon the rock of Peter's confession (that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God) that Jesus' church would be built (upon that confession), and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. And they haven't prevailed against the fact that he is who he said he was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love how the gospel of John tells us: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John 20:26 "And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, <span style="color: red;">Peace be unto you</span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">27) Then saith he to Thomas, <span style="color: red;">Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">28) Thomas answered and said unto him, <b>My Lord and my God</b>." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thomas had been a doubter, but his last statement speaks volumes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yet, there will be doubters until the trump of God shall sound on the last day. Life will be going on as usual. </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ecclesiastes 8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12) Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him: 13) but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To the doubters amongst us, remember the Apostles that walked with Jesus were convinced that Jesus was the Christ so much so they lived, preached, and died for their confession. Remember also Thomas' reaction to Jesus resurrection. My Lord and my God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are several things Jesus was not. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He was not a liar, nor deceiver.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He was not wicked, nor a homosexual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He was not homeless, but a wanderer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He was not a socialist, nor a Robin Hood</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As it says in Ecclesiastes, because God doesn't strike people dead, or evil isn't punished immediately people are emboldened to mock God and Jesus. Their hearts are set to do evil, but those that believe in and fear God know there is a judgement coming. God is not wishing any to perish so he gives sinners another chance. We hear too often when people die, 'they've gone on to a better place'. They have not gone on to a better place if they are unrepentant sinners. They have not gone on to a better place if they aren't following Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jesus is the spotless lamb of God. He was our perfect sacrifice, but without laying claim to that inheritance we won't get it. Our radio station has games with prizes, but since I don't play I'm not expecting to 'get their prize'. If you don't allow Jesus to put your name on the list you won't win the prize. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-2154341049955603192018-04-10T11:12:00.000-05:002018-04-10T11:13:13.569-05:00Shattered Dreams<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." (2 Timothy 3:10-14 ASV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've endured the last few days snow, fog, and ice, but today the sunshine is powerful. It is shining and warming the earthly inhabitants. The trees had at dawn a coat of crystal, like shimmering glass. The sun is warming this layer that is so beautiful, and it is falling to the ground off the stems and twigs. Falling to lie on the ground beneath the trees, shimmering for the moment, but soon to melt into a distant memory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dreams can be like that as well. We don't know what dreams the Apostle Paul held for his life work. He was a Roman born, and a Jew. Something of an oddity. He had learned at the feet of a highly respected and learned man of the Law, Gamaliel. Saul, also known as Paul, was a respected part of the Jewish system in his early life.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Philippians 3:4) "though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:"</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Philippians 3:5) "circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;"</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Philippians 3:6) "as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless."</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Philippians 3:7) "Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ."</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He left it all when he found that Jesus was the Way (the Truth and the Life). He gave up a good life to be hounded by 'Judaizing teachers' in his latter years. He journeyed much, teaching all, both Jews and Gentiles. He withstood hunger, cold, betrayal disappointment...in a word he suffered persecution from Satan and human sources. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(2 Timothy 4:16 ASV) "At my first defense no one took my part, but all forsook me: may it not be laid to their account. (2 Timothy 4:17) But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might me fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"All forsook me, But the Lord stood by me..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes the good life isn't the one we hoped for. Like ice crystals melting on the ground, the life we want may be transient, fragile and worthless. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Matthew 6:33 ) " But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(Matthew 6:34 ASV) Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-2890372682374944122018-03-27T18:23:00.000-05:002018-03-27T18:23:05.937-05:00Conflict: Finding<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Conflict is what makes a great fiction novel. At least, a fiction novel without conflict will be rather blase'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him (Jesus) asked him to show them a sign from heaven." (Matthew 16:1 ASV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are times when I think I really wish God would just say to me in His God Voice, "you've gotten side-tracked <i>again</i>. You're going the wrong way, back up/turn around, and..."Somewhat like an accurate Alexa, or /Siri. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my life it is often days, months or even sometimes years before I can tell if what I've done is the right thing. I do trial and error, or the turn around and look method. On small inconsequential things-- if you learn from the experience it can be good. However, the important things in life don't work well that way. Like having a 2,000 pound polar bear charging at you, most of the important things only give you one shot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2) For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy," </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(2 Timothy 3:1-2 ASV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People have been pointing to what goes on in society for close to two thousand years, saying, 'these are the last days'. We are witnessing a society in turmoil and conflict. Like a kaleidoscope of ever changing patterns the colors and shapes are—ever changing. We have angry young people, and why wouldn't we have them? We have angry unchanneled adults. If adults fall for the lies of Satan, do we expect their younger counter-parts to be any less duped? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are many people in denial. I saw it today on a meme: "I'm not religious, I'm spiritual". What?! What does that mean? I thought the definition might give me a clue, so I went to the dictionary to find out what 'religious' is: 1) a member of a religious order bound by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience 2) religious; spiritual (adj) 3)having or showing belief in and reverence for deity 4)of or relating to clergy bound by monastic vows. 5) extremely scrupulous, conscientious</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, why are they in denial? Being religious is apparently out of favor. If one is 'spiritual' they can approach their own image of their own god in whatsoever manner they choose.Being spiritual is fashionable like the difference between 'meditation' and 'prayer'. </span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prayer is the act of communicating with deity, (especially as a petition, an expression of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving. (A petition/ communication that goes toward God.)</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health issues, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. It may be done sitting, or in an active way - for instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of or remind the practitioner about some aspect of the training.(A training of one's own mind, self-talking.)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One is a petition to deity, the other is putting self in the place of deity, and talking to self .</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Calling it spiritual as opposed to religious is as one writer put it, "putting it according to their own terms; God has zero input in the equation. It's atheism for someone who's scared to go all in."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The following is a list which being religious answers to. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God wants more from His followers than just their thoughts "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."(James 1:27 ASV)</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God wants us to 'know' Him. To crave His companionship—as if we were friends, or (gasp) his dear children, and He our Father</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He wants us to not just know his will for us, but to follow His will</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God wants us to love His Son, Jesus; to honor and worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God wants us to love, and show love. Not just the warm and fuzzy, feel good love, but the kind that Jesus had and showed in His life and death</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see, religion is the foundation for that kind of life. Just as Jesus was religious—Yes, he was—He kept the Law perfectly, and without that he wouldn't have been the perfect sacrifice. As the song says: Law and Love combining. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nowhere does God say, "Find your own path to me, follow your own feelings..." "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(John 14:6 ASV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"But he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red. 3)And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times. 4)An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed." (Matthew 16:2-4 ASV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Halelujah! What a Savior!</span></div>
deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-11532873005558737632018-03-21T17:11:00.000-05:002018-03-21T17:12:22.152-05:00Where Is Conflict? Seeking<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What is conflict? Why do our lives all contain conflict? How do we find the correct balance? Health gurus tell us too much conflict makes us sick, experience shows us too little conflict makes us complacent. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. Thought: This one is difficult. There are some people you can never please. At times we will have to acknowledge this. Like the old saying—fix what you can. Look for peaceful answers. Perhaps that grumpy old fart needs attention. We know children can develop the 'naughtiness' habit in order to get attention. They aren't the only ones. Same for children. Maybe that young person needs good attention. Look for peaceable solutions, pray for peaceable solutions. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. Thought: never have a vengeful attitude. That doesn't mean you allow someone to run over you, or become a push- over. You don't have to have a chip on your shoulder, but everyone has a right to personal integrity. As with the Quaker one cold winter's eve, when after having the wood pile he had supplied for his fireplaces and stoves pilfered more than once, he stuck his head out the back door to confront the thief. Quakers being non-violent and pacifists--he opens the door and calls out to the thief: "Friend, I mean thee no harm, but thou art standing where I am about to shoot." </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Thought: Looking for a peaceful solution is the first step. I know people whom at first meeting they come across as bold or combative in some way. Sometimes, however, once you scratch the surface that isn't who they are. Take time to listen to people. They don't always speak with their mouth, and we can sometimes listen with out heart and eyes. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (Romans 12:18-21 ASV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The last one says it all. It sums it up well. Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span><br />
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-39547964251920246172018-03-02T21:40:00.000-06:002018-03-02T21:42:32.083-06:00GMO #2We used to watch a science-fiction show, 'Doctor. Who' when our children were growing up. In at least one show the good Doctor was fighting against another being that among some of the atrocities he had done, he had crossed different species and came up with some odd creatures. It was one of those moments to shudder over. Another sci-fi show not related to Doctor Who, a scientist, in stages, turned a young man (who had been interested in the scientist's daughter) into a snake with human characteristics. That wasn't a happy show either.<br />
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I bring those shows up to highlight how things and times change.Back in 1980 scientists produced the first GE (genetically engineered/ GMO?) rabbit. Today we are looking at GE goats. A cross between a goat and a golden orb-weaver spider (a cannibalistic spider that produces: "silk, tougher than Kevlar, is a hundred times stronger than human ligaments.)"<br />
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While as a scientist this may be intriguing, as a regular human being I kind of put this up there with the Doctor Who and that other sci-fi show. Of course, one might ask, what's the big deal? The goat is still a goat. A cute lovable animal...right? At this point I'm thinking about Asian Beetles.<br />
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You know those stinking things that look a lot like Lady beetles, but aren't? That someone from the department of agriculture brought over from Asia to help (as an experiment?) control soybean aphid pests. That's a freebie, just in case you ever wondered where they came from and why. No, that doesn't answer why they swarm into our houses, bite, and stink, and etc. But that's what I'm thinking about when people, say like scientists, and unsuspecting citizens ask 'so what', and 'what could go wrong?. </div>
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I don't know how far these folks want to go with this. You can't tell by looking at the goats if they have the added traits, by the way. Not all do, but they do pass it on in their genetic code. And of course we need another government agency to regulate all of this...and this is part of the questions being asked. What if down the road some or all of these things come back with unintended consequences? Consequences that can't be controlled.<br />
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There are many on both sides of the GMO issue. To the grain/crop farmer, as far as I can see it is a wash. Good and bad. In some ways it may be contributing to super weeds and pests. That's the bad side. Europe and foreign markets aren't real keen on GMO crops, but so far the U.S. has come out on the upper hand of (it looks like forcing) selling them our products GMO and all. Many of our own consumers want and in many cases are willing to pay extra for non-GMO (and organic).<br />
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I don't trust the research in either direction. I've been told anonymously by researchers, I can prove what ever you want—all it takes is money. However, some people do notice a difference when they and their families go organic and non-GMO. I've raised our garden, and we raised our truck farm organic and non-GMO for forty-five years. It isn't easy, sometimes it's gotten ugly, but I wouldn't change it. And I've gone back to using 95% heirloom varieties.<br />
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We've been business owners. We've worked for business owners, and one of the fundamentals is that the market and the customer determines what you sell. If there isn't a market for a product, or the customer doesn't want what you've got what can you do? I would think you would give them what they want.<br />
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There are fads that will pass, but the consumer keeps getting more vociferous, insisting on what products they want. I haven't waded into the grass-fed arena. I'm waiting a couple of years to decide if chicken eggs really know their mammy ate grass. I do like the home-grown brown eggs with their dark orange color. Brown eggs are reported as having a bit of a higher protein than white eggs.<br />
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I haven't even gotten into the ethics of some of these things, other than alluding to Doctor Who, and the sci-fi show. These things do bother me for several reasons. Scientists are acting like little kids with a new toy. They've found this wonderful information, and they want to manipulate it. To play God as it were. There are a number of things that are wrong with that.<br />
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<li>Only God is all-knowing. Only He can see all of the nuances and end results. </li>
<li>They/we aren't God and they/we are playing with a loaded gun. Like Pandora, something we may not be able to get back in the box.</li>
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In the Old Testament God had some laws for His people after they entered the Promised land. We today don't need to follow those commandments and statutes, but as I said last article they still make me wonder as to why they were there, and if we should be more careful with what we are doing.<br />
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"Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with two kinds of seed: neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together." (Leviticus 19:19 ASV)<br />
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"Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole fruit be forfeited, the seed which thou hast sown, and the increase of the vineyard." (Deuteronomy 22:9 ASV)</div>
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Hallelujah! What a Savior!<br />
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-55685039227639636742018-02-28T13:51:00.004-06:002018-02-28T13:55:59.461-06:00What Do You Know About GMOs?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The term GMO in today's vernacular means Genetically Modified Organism. That's what we're talking about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Information in support of or against GMOs is all over the board. Listening to local talk show host Simon Conway lately he encourages people to 'check out and use sources that are trustworthy'. That's not as easy as it sounds. A few years ago discussing projects with a 'researcher' we were told, "I can prove anything you want me to prove, in the way you want me to prove it. All it takes is enough money."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I didn't need that confirmation of my cynicism. We were not talking about GMOs with the researchist, but all research is suspect (especially now) no matter what side of the fence a person is on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"But we've had all of these hybrids all of these years, so what's the big deal?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've heard/read this argument, or a spin off of it: all of these plants have been co-mingling and that's why we have so many health problems today (ie. leaky gut).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Answer number one:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">remember science class and Gregor Mendel's hybrid pea work? Hybrids occur naturally in nature often by cross-pollination, but in other ways as well. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">yes, as in the case of Mendel humans can speed these up in various ways, but hybridization is a natural phenomenon and not the same as GMO</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">hybridization may or may not have a leaky gut connection. I'm becoming leery of all of the leaky gut theories</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">GMOs are developed in the laboratory by using highly complex technologies. A technology known as 'gene splicing', where the genes of one organism are cut out of their DNA and spliced into another</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">organism, not even necessarily of the same kingdom. For instance Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) a natural bacteria that kills caterpillars and some other larvae being spliced into the DNA of corn, potatoes, and cotton so they are resistant to caterpillars and worms.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As in many areas in life there often is an up and down side of these things. One voice that was raised against Bt being spliced into the DNA is:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> as regular farmers have used more and more commercial herbicides, weeds and pests are growing an increasing resistance to those products.We are seeing super weeds that are uncontrollable. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As an organic producer, Bt has been one of our most effective sprays against caterpillars through out our vegetable (truck) farm.It only affects caterpillars and larvae, not mammals. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If they, scientists, produce a 'super-pest' that Bt won't control by splicing it into the DNA (instead of using it discriminately and only where necessary) it stacks the deck against organics. And organic is a difficult field to grow without throwing up another obstacle.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some of the affects of the GMO are not studied sufficiently. Some of the products of this technique aren't fully vetted. They have done some GMO modifications on any number of things. For example fruit trees. With GMOs it doesn't necessarily end with the one plant. If the plant (for lack of a better term) gets loose it can ruin a neighbor's non-GMO crop, or the fruit can also reproduce more GMO trees...want it or not.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I would like to continue with these thoughts in a short series of posts, so if you are interested, as they used to say 'stay tuned'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd like to leave you with this thought from the Old Testament. (Yes, I know we're not under the Old Testament law, but this scripture still gives me pause:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole fruit be forfeited, the seed which thou hast sown, and the increase of the vineyard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Deuteronomy 22:9 ASV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior!</span></div>
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-2927225690340869592018-02-23T19:45:00.001-06:002018-02-23T19:46:41.041-06:00Living the Busy Life~<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"And he saith unto the man that had his hand withered, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, <span style="color: red;">Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored." </span>(Mark 3:1-5 ASV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jesus said in more than one place in scriptures I must be about my Father's business, or I must do the work I was sent to do:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work." (John 5:17 ASV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4 ASV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Ephesians 4:11 we are told: "And he gave some to be apostles;" the commentary by Gill says thus:</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And he gave some apostles,.... That is, he gave them gifts by which they were qualified to be apostles; who were such as were immediately called by Christ, and had their doctrine from him, and their commission to preach it; and were peculiarly and infallibly guided by the Spirit of God, and had a power to work miracles for the confirmation of their doctrine; this was the first and chief office in the church, and of an extraordinary kind, and is now ceased; and though the apostles were before Christ's ascension, yet they had not received till then the fullness of the Spirit, and his extraordinary gifts to fit them for their office; nor did they enter upon the discharge of it in its large extent till that time; for they were not only to bear witness of Christ in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, but in the uttermost parts of the earth: </span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ephesians 4:11 continued: "and some, prophets;" Gill again says:</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by whom are meant, not private members of churches, who may all prophesy or teach in a private way; nor ordinary ministers of the word; but extraordinary ones, who had a peculiar gift of interpreting the Scriptures, the prophecies of the Old Testament, and of foretelling things to come; such were Agabus and others in the church of Antioch, Act_11:27</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4:11 continued: "and some, evangelists;" Gill commentary: </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by whom are designed, not so much the writers of the Gospels, as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, some of which were also apostles; as preachers of the Gospel, and who yet were distinct from the ordinary ministers of it; they were below the apostles, and yet above pastors and teachers; they were the companions of the apostles, and assistants to them, and subserved them in their work; such were Philip, Luke, Titus, Timothy, and others; these were not fixed and stated ministers in anyone place, as the following officers be, but were sent here and there as the apostles thought fit: </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4:11 continued: "and some, pastors and teachers;" Gill: </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but whereas the pastors are the shepherds of the flock, the overseers of it, and the same with the bishops and elders, and the teachers may be the gifted brethren in the church, assistants to the pastors, bare ministers of the word; so the difference lies here, that the one has the oversight, and care, and charge of the church, and the other not; </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, then, the Apostles prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers all had different roles in the early church. These men had a special work given to them from God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The early church didn't have the complete revealed work of the New Testament at this time, but they would eventually. Until that time, they had the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth:" (John 16:13)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven;" (1 Peter 1:12 ASV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away."(1 Corinthians 13:8-10 ASV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The special work of the Apostles prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers was designed for:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:11-12 ASV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We still have the need for this work, but not a special revelation and not in the same way.The apostles, of course have passed on. No one alive today has lived long enough to have physically walked with Jesus on earth. We still have evangelists, pastors, and teachers. An evangelist is one who preaches the word. A pastor, unlike the general idea is not a preacher per se. A pastor may preach ("The bishop therefore must be without reproach...apt to teach;" 1 Timothy 3:2 ASV), but is actually an 'elder, leader, or bishop' in the congregation. One who 'rules' the individuals of a congregation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See also: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls..." (Hebrews 13:17 ASV)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of us are teachers in some way. Try to keep a positive attitude, a Jesus attitude. Remember, our lives are all busy with something. If we don't fill it with something purposefully ourselves, it fills itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hallelujah! What a Savior! </span><br />
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deborawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7909380189778918949.post-41355088270501236562018-02-16T22:29:00.001-06:002018-02-16T22:29:52.528-06:00Getting It RightHow do you only put a title on a post? When you come back don't you wonder what it was supposed to be about? I remember losing control of the weather, but must I lose my mind as well....<br />
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What I'm saying here is that I began this post some time ago, and I had thoughts that went with it. Now I have thoughts that WILL go with it, but I can't be exactly sure what the original spark was.<br />
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My mother was a perfectionist. If she did something it was perfect. Be it cleaning a room, making a bed, or even preparing a meal. That is a rather daunting heritage to live up to.<br />
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If my grandmother ever was a perfectionist it got knocked out of her by living a 'real' life. I remember her telling of just finishing washing the dining room floor, and company suddenly showed up, and...well, you guessed it. Good bye clean floor.<br />
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I don't believe that type of scenario ever played in my mother's theater. I don't think she ever quite understood the life and times of other players either. There was always an unspoken (most of the time unspoken) rift between my mother and grandmother. I can only guess at what the reason may have been, and it causes me sorrow to this day.<br />
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I have one sister. She's a perfectionist. We for most of our lives have lived on different planets. She chose not to have children, worked hard, did the things she needed to do, and...<br />
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"Well, look at that picture. There's Jackie and her perfect Christmas tree..." our adorable cousin is scrutinizing my Christmas card from my sister. It is a card from the year before, and I've looked at that card several times since receiving it, but I never honestly noticed the foolish tree before. The tree isn't really foolish, it's exactly like adorable cousin said, it's perfect. It's perfectly shaped, perfectly decorated, and just perfect. Sigh<br />
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As I said, in my family there are two siblings—my sister and I. My mother at least got half of her perfect children. My sister rode and competed in Western horse shows. She was grand champion one year, she was that good. Then along came me. I rode bareback and a lot like an Indian. I don't say this to impugn Indians in any way, but... I did have a bridle, but the faster my pony and I could fly the better I liked it. They called me 'grasshopper' because Wee Willie (pony) would be flying along and I'd be kicking and kicking sitting on his back. I was a very young child, so Wee Willie probably thought I was a grasshopper and my short legs were probably sticking out to the sides and kicking nothing. Note here that my oldest cousin said I learned to ride before I could walk, and if she wasn't totally right she was pretty close.<br />
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That was a summation of our lives. My sister, the self-disciplined achiever. Always on the honor-roll, always perfect. I was so proud of her for doing what I could never do. The only thing she didn't get that she should have had was Homecoming Queen. She was cheated out of that honor, but she was a gracious lady about it even then, not spiteful or vengeful.<br />
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If I happened to be on the honor roll, no one was more surprised than I was. If I did something right no one was more surprised than I was. One of my mother's oft repeated barbs at me was, 'You're just like you grandmother.' That would have been a poke except I realized I loved my grandmother, I was not just like her, and it was not a big deal either way.<br />
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It might come as a surprise to people to know that I'm a perfectionist as well. However, just as my grandmother's theater had a different movie playing, so have I. I've learned survival techniques that my mother—and sister—never needed. I realized that just getting several children clean and presentable for Sunday worship, making it to church on time (sometimes just by a nose) AND having a pair of shoes and a pair of socks on each set of feet was an accomplishment.<br />
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I realized that being a perfectionist is sometimes secondary to being alive, and success isn't always how clean my house is, or perfect my Christmas tree is, or a whole host of other things that I would like to be perfect. I don't know exactly how to measure success. I can't point to my fine house, car, furnishings, or any 'thing' I have. Except, I have a loving God and Jesus is my Savior. Therein lies my comfort and strength. On a number of occasions people have asked me about my amazing family. The first time that happened I was about to answer, 'I don't know, it just happened'. This wee small voice in my head said, 'No, it didn't just happen'. I thought about the years of loving them, teaching and nurturing them. I thought of the years of giving up a monetary income to stay home and bake cookies, bake bread, read stories, and so many other things. Just as having a house is not the same as making a home, giving birth to children isn't the same thing as raising and nurturing a family.<br />
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God's plan is always right:<br />
"In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death."(Proverbs 14:26-27 ASV)<br />
Hallelujah! What a Savior!<br />
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