We have survived another year. 2012 is behind us now and I wonder whether we will always think of it as the year the world was supposed to end. Will it go down in history with that handle?
Considering all the hoopla about 2012, maybe we should look on 2013 as a gift. In fact, I really think we should consider every new day of life a gift. If you're alive, it's a gift. Nobody can give you life without God's intervention. If you almost died and were brought back to life, God had a hand in it. Your times are in His hands.
Whether we know it or not, whether we believe it or not, our lives are in God's hands. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. We don't know whether we'll be able to carry out our plans and dreams. There are lots of obstacles and possible events we haven't even imagined that may or may not hinder us from accomplishing our goals.
My prayer for the new year is that I will not go through each day merely on a physical level, focusing only on this material world. (Luke 12:15 "And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man/woman's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.") We live in a material world. But, we also simultaneously live in the spiritual world. The physical world and how we live in the physical world is a manifestation of that spiritual world.
One thing for sure is that I would never want to consider communicating with the spiritual world without my Mediator. I don't want anyone or anything influencing me that isn't of Jesus Christ.
I John 4:1-3 "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3. And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, where of ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
This year, may we all discover the true meaning of happiness. May we find happiness in each other and the wonderful creation put on this planet. All these can be enjoyed for free. May we take time to lift our noses up from the grindstone (or computer screen, as the case may be) and smell the roses of our lives. -The lives God has given to us.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Read It Yourself
There's one way to find out what the Bible says and that is to read it. By that, I mean, it's fine to read what people have to say about the Bible, but unless you read the Bible for yourself, you could be in the dangerous position of putting your faith and trust in people instead of God.
How can you know what the Bible says unless you read it?
The Bible can stand up for itself. In fact, it is a living thing! Hebrews 4:12 says "For the Word of God is quick (alive!) and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Not only is the Word everything we need: strength, food, water, bread, light, life, love, a map, protection, a weapon; it is also our GOD. (John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.")
We should read the Word. We should worship the Word. Respect the Word.
What will keep us through dark days ahead? The Word! What kept the Christians throughout history who were imprisoned, tortured, persecuted and martyred? The Word! What's the answer to every problem in our lives? THE WORD! READ IT NOW AND ENJOY!
How can you know what the Bible says unless you read it?
The Bible can stand up for itself. In fact, it is a living thing! Hebrews 4:12 says "For the Word of God is quick (alive!) and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Not only is the Word everything we need: strength, food, water, bread, light, life, love, a map, protection, a weapon; it is also our GOD. (John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.")
We should read the Word. We should worship the Word. Respect the Word.
What will keep us through dark days ahead? The Word! What kept the Christians throughout history who were imprisoned, tortured, persecuted and martyred? The Word! What's the answer to every problem in our lives? THE WORD! READ IT NOW AND ENJOY!
John 3
1. There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.
3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
If you're still trying to figure God out with your mind, it may be because you are not born again of the spirit. Jesus said, "Ye must be born again." That's an imperative directive. He doesn't often define directives explicitly, but here He is using 'must'.
8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9. Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be?
10. Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
You can go to church all your life and have considerable knowledge of God, but until you have a change of spirit; until you are truly "born again" and filled with the Holy Spirit, you won't be able to even understand what the Bible is really saying. You can't read and understand it in the flesh, just as you can't figure out God with your carnal mind.
11. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15. That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
18. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Just to be clear, the God that we are talking about here is Jesus Christ. That's the name that has power. Don't get your "god" mixed up. It's not Buda, or Allah or Zeus or any of the Hindu gods. You need to make sure that you talk to the right God, the Only True God. Yes, folks, there is only one true God.
Why do we pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ? There are lots of reasons, but here are a few: Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins. He is our Mediator. His purpose in coming to our planet was to help God and us understand each other better. Jesus became a man, so He could understand what it's like to be human. He is the propitiation for our sins so that God will forgive and overlook our sins for His sake...
19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
22. After these things came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judaea; and there He tarried with them, and baptized.
23. And John also was baptizing in Aenon, near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24. For John was not yet cast into prison.
25. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him.
27. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him.
29. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30. He must increase, but I must decrease.
31. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32. And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony.
33. He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34. For He who God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.
35. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.
36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.
3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
If you're still trying to figure God out with your mind, it may be because you are not born again of the spirit. Jesus said, "Ye must be born again." That's an imperative directive. He doesn't often define directives explicitly, but here He is using 'must'.
8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9. Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be?
10. Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
You can go to church all your life and have considerable knowledge of God, but until you have a change of spirit; until you are truly "born again" and filled with the Holy Spirit, you won't be able to even understand what the Bible is really saying. You can't read and understand it in the flesh, just as you can't figure out God with your carnal mind.
11. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15. That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
18. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Just to be clear, the God that we are talking about here is Jesus Christ. That's the name that has power. Don't get your "god" mixed up. It's not Buda, or Allah or Zeus or any of the Hindu gods. You need to make sure that you talk to the right God, the Only True God. Yes, folks, there is only one true God.
Why do we pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ? There are lots of reasons, but here are a few: Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins. He is our Mediator. His purpose in coming to our planet was to help God and us understand each other better. Jesus became a man, so He could understand what it's like to be human. He is the propitiation for our sins so that God will forgive and overlook our sins for His sake...
19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
22. After these things came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judaea; and there He tarried with them, and baptized.
23. And John also was baptizing in Aenon, near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24. For John was not yet cast into prison.
25. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him.
27. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him.
29. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30. He must increase, but I must decrease.
31. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32. And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony.
33. He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34. For He who God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.
35. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.
36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Chapter 2 of the Book of John, continued
Verse 19. Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21. But He spake of the temple of His body.
22. When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
23. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did.
24. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,
25. And needed not that any shojuld testify of man: for He knew what was in man.
Note: I'm posting the Book of John because, as I suggested earlier in this blog, the New Testament is the best place for a new believer to begin to read the Word of God. Of course, the Old Testament is also a great read. It tells you, from the beginning of creation, where we all came from, the history of God's people, prophecies about our Redeemer, miracles upon miracles that illustrate the power of God and the blessings of obedience, etc., etc.
20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21. But He spake of the temple of His body.
22. When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
23. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did.
24. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,
25. And needed not that any shojuld testify of man: for He knew what was in man.
Note: I'm posting the Book of John because, as I suggested earlier in this blog, the New Testament is the best place for a new believer to begin to read the Word of God. Of course, the Old Testament is also a great read. It tells you, from the beginning of creation, where we all came from, the history of God's people, prophecies about our Redeemer, miracles upon miracles that illustrate the power of God and the blessings of obedience, etc., etc.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Is God Mean and Violent?
God is just. He is righteous. Therefore, it would seem that 'mean' is not an appropriate word to describe Him. He's not a bully on the playground, stealing our toys, provoking us to anger. My dictionary says that "mean" means unwilling to give or share, unkind. That's the opposite of God.
If He is anything, God is kind, sharing and giving. Yet, there are many sides to God and although He is long-suffering, there is a limit to how much He will tolerate.
We humans are always saying things like, "If there is a God, why does He allow such atrocities?" My answer to that would be, "He doesn't. We do. We allow the atrocities by not calling on God to do something." Prayer changes things. But, when God does do something, we can't question His actions and turn around and call Him "mean".
So, for my part, my opinion is that God is certainly not mean. But, is He violent?
It sure seems like it. Just sitting in my livingroom, listening to the thunder crashing all around during a storm can be pretty scary. But, to me, it's exciting. I know I'm safe. I can trust God that no harm will come to me. Maybe for some people, who don't have a relationship with Him, God can be pretty scary.
However, God is not trying to scare us into Hell. He's trying to love us into Heaven.
I John 4:8 says, "...God is love." That should mean that whatever He does, He does in love. If God sees fit to get violent (as when Jesus overthrew the money-changers' tables in the temple) it's for a good reason.
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If He is anything, God is kind, sharing and giving. Yet, there are many sides to God and although He is long-suffering, there is a limit to how much He will tolerate.
We humans are always saying things like, "If there is a God, why does He allow such atrocities?" My answer to that would be, "He doesn't. We do. We allow the atrocities by not calling on God to do something." Prayer changes things. But, when God does do something, we can't question His actions and turn around and call Him "mean".
So, for my part, my opinion is that God is certainly not mean. But, is He violent?
It sure seems like it. Just sitting in my livingroom, listening to the thunder crashing all around during a storm can be pretty scary. But, to me, it's exciting. I know I'm safe. I can trust God that no harm will come to me. Maybe for some people, who don't have a relationship with Him, God can be pretty scary.
However, God is not trying to scare us into Hell. He's trying to love us into Heaven.
I John 4:8 says, "...God is love." That should mean that whatever He does, He does in love. If God sees fit to get violent (as when Jesus overthrew the money-changers' tables in the temple) it's for a good reason.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I love the story of Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Of course, you can't beat Dickens for a great intrigue with lots of entertaining narrative. But, Mr. Scrooge proves, above all else, that people can change. It seems that if there's hope for Scrooge, there's hope for anyone.
As Lynus said in "A Charlie Brown Christmas", "That's what Christmas is all about," Charlie Brown.
If you're a person who doesn't often listen to what others have to say; if you feel you already know everything that's worth knowing and your mind is made up, -so much so that you don't want to be confused with the facts, then you are not going to be apt to change.
Understandably, some of us feel that we are content in the knowledge of who we are, what we believe to be true and self-evident and that we know a great deal more than most people. That's the description of 'smug'.
Smugness is not always safe. It can land you in a place called Regret.
For Christmas this year, may I offer a piece of friendly advice to face the New Year with? Open up to others. Listen to what others have to say about how you affect them. You may be surprised to find out that there is actually more than one way to do things.
Take a look at Scrooge. He had to go through a rude awakening by suffering severe visitations from spirits intent on giving him a shocking reality check. It didn't come easy for him to begin to admit that maybe he was possibly wrong about a few things. In fact, he had to see himself in the future as a corpse before the fear of God was finally thrown into him. But, when he finally humbled himself, he didn't let public opinion hold him back. He threw himself into his new persona regardless of what anyone thought.
That's what I admire about Scrooge the most. He became like a little child, full of the joy of living. That's the kind of future I wish us all! Let it be fearless, full of the joy of living, full of hope and faith and full of the freedom true humility can bring!
If you're a person who doesn't often listen to what others have to say; if you feel you already know everything that's worth knowing and your mind is made up, -so much so that you don't want to be confused with the facts, then you are not going to be apt to change.
Understandably, some of us feel that we are content in the knowledge of who we are, what we believe to be true and self-evident and that we know a great deal more than most people. That's the description of 'smug'.
Smugness is not always safe. It can land you in a place called Regret.
For Christmas this year, may I offer a piece of friendly advice to face the New Year with? Open up to others. Listen to what others have to say about how you affect them. You may be surprised to find out that there is actually more than one way to do things.
Take a look at Scrooge. He had to go through a rude awakening by suffering severe visitations from spirits intent on giving him a shocking reality check. It didn't come easy for him to begin to admit that maybe he was possibly wrong about a few things. In fact, he had to see himself in the future as a corpse before the fear of God was finally thrown into him. But, when he finally humbled himself, he didn't let public opinion hold him back. He threw himself into his new persona regardless of what anyone thought.
That's what I admire about Scrooge the most. He became like a little child, full of the joy of living. That's the kind of future I wish us all! Let it be fearless, full of the joy of living, full of hope and faith and full of the freedom true humility can bring!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Christmas Carols
For a lot of us, Christmas time is a time of year when we feel an inexplicable joy. Fond memories may return to us. There is a sense of humanity that seems to pervade the atmosphere and even a sweet peace that warms the cockles of our hearts.
One Christmas, when I was a child, I sat spell-bound, listening to a little red record playing a song on a little record player in my brother's bedroom. The song was a carol called, "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear". I strained to hear the words, to try to comprehend them and wondered what "harps of gold" might look like.
Today, it amazes me that such a deeply spiritual message has endured through the centuries. It prophecies about an "Age of Gold" declared by the angels of God.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold.
Peace on the earth good will to men,
From Heaven’s all gracious King!
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing.
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man at war with man hears not
The love song which they bring:
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! The days are
hastening on,
By prophets bards foretold,
When, with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the Age of Gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing
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