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Posts tagged ‘General Thoughts’

Inclusive Salvation: Who Can Be Forgiven by God?

All people can be forgiven by God. Even the ones you don’t like. This may come as a shock to some. Some may say that this one or that one has done things that even God can’t forgive. This is only 1 unforgiveable sin. Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

This sin takes work and knowledge of the Holy Ghost. No one is excluded because of their current job, looks, skin color, past, place of birth, or income. It is hurtful and wrong to put yourself as judge and jury over people. Matthew 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. This is Jesus talking. He is saying whosoever will. That is inclusive of everyone. Throughout history people have mistakenly thought that certain people were too far gone to be saved. I am here to tell you that 99.999% of the time that is wrong.  Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We are commanded to teach everyone that we meet in this world. That includes all and all means all. 
Stop judging and start obeying God. God does not look at the outward appearance but the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.  God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. How he thought then is still how he thinks today. 
God called us to teach. As the people are taught, they will confirm to the will of God. God’s will is not always your will. We are simply to teach the whole word of God. God’s Word will take over and do what it was sent out to do. Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
God has chosen us to carry the word and speak it. He will then accomplish his will.
Overcoming Challenges: Faith in Modern Society

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The Power of Children’s Prayer Requests

 

As a child, I recall the preacher inviting prayer requests at the start of each service. At the tender age of seven, I had a significant request: I wanted prayers for my father’s salvation. The laughter that ensued after I voiced my request still lingers in my memory. The congregation deemed it an impossible plea, for my father was a long-haul truck driver, a profession they considered beyond redemption at that time and place.

Prayer requests made by children should be taken seriously as they are expressions of their growing faith. They learn to trust by bringing their concerns to Jesus, as it is said, “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” Every prayer is significant to God, regardless of whether it seems trivial or unattainable to us. Indeed, God specializes in the impossible and in time, my father did come to recognize Jesus as his savior.
 
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Maintaining Reverence: Guidelines for Church Conduct

Historically, churches have taught the importance of respect within the House of God. While some rules may have seemed overly strict, they were established with good intentions. Ecclesiastes 5:1 says, “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.” Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Berean Strong’s Lexicon
yirah: Fear, reverence, awe

Original Word: יִרְאָה Part of Speech: Noun Feminine Transliteration: yirah Pronunciation: yee-RAH Phonetic Spelling: (yir-aw’) Definition: Fear, reverence, awe Meaning: fear, reverence

Word Origin: Derived from the root יָרֵא (yare), which means “to fear” or “to revere.”

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: – φόβος (phobos): Often translated as “fear” in the New Testament, it can carry a similar range of meanings, from terror to reverential awe, depending on the context (e.g., Philippians 2:12).

It is important to hold reverence for God, the creator of the universe. This means to have a high degree of respect for God.

Consider an instance illustrating the consequences of not holding God’s House in high regard. On one occasion, while in a church during a time designated for fellowship, I witnessed a young boy, approximately seven years old, striking and kicking another boy, who appeared to be around 12 or 13 years old. No one stopped the children. This behavior displayed a lack of respect for both God and the surrounding congregation, clearly not reflecting God’s love. John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Children should be taught appropriate behavior. By the age of five, most are capable of distinguishing between a playground and a place of worship. If they cannot, it may indicate an issue. Could it be that the parents are not effectively teaching their children? Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This “Training” needs to start as early in a child’s life as possible.
We need to remember to be respectful in the House of God. This means no running (without a good reason), No yelling across the room, No roughhousing, No foul language, No disruptive behavior (distractive behavior). I think you can get the general idea. We are there for Prayer, Learning the Word of God, Godly Fellowship, and to Praise and Worship Jesus.

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Biblical Verses for Thankfulness This Thanksgiving

Tis the season for strife. It is amazing how a day called Thanksgiving causes so many problems.  It was originally meant to be a day of prayer and thanks giving.  

Now it has turned into a time of strife and stress for many.

Thanksgiving is not a holiday mentioned in the Bible, but the idea of giving thanks is a theme all through the Bible.

Here are some scriptures to help you give thanks.

Nehemiah 12:27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

Nehemiah 12:46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.

Psalm 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Psalm 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

Psalm 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.

Psalm 147:7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

Isaiah 51:3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Jeremiah 30:19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

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Stand for Your Beliefs: Lessons from the 90’s Song

You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything is a line from a song from the early 90’s. This song makes a very good point. You will either stand up for your beliefs or you will fall for every thought that passes by.  The Bible says in Ephesians 4:14, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”. 

Basically, the scripture is saying grow up, know what you believe, and stick with it. Similarly, the song says, “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything”. As Christians, we need to stand for Christ, or you will fall into the trap of the devil. We need to stop being tossed about like a ship without a rudder and stand firm on the Word of God. 

For those that your like to know the rest of the song, here it is. Aaron Tippin – You’ve Got to Stand for Something Lyrics | Lyrics.com

Now Daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along 
Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on 
He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light 
But you could always find him standing up 
For what he thought was right 
He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything 
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string 
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name 
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything 

Now we might have been better off or owned a bigger house 
If Daddy had done more givin' in or a little more backing down 
But we always had plenty just living his advice 
Whatever you do today you'll have to sleep with tonight 

He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything 
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string 
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name 
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything 

Now I know that things are different than they were in Daddy's days 
But I still believe what makes a man really hasn't changed 

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything 
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string 
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name 
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything 

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
 

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The Erasure of Women: A Global Crisis

 In Afghanistan women are being erased from public life, The Taliban are creating 1 law after another that is causing the disappearance of women from public areas. Everyone can plainly see that this is wrong. 

In many other places women are being erased in a different more progressive way. Women are being replaced by men who say that they are women. We no longer have women’s sports. It is amazing to me that in the name of equality we are taking away from women the very thing that women fought so hard to achieve. Even the understanding of the meaning of the word woman causes many problems. It was not so very long ago that women were proud to be women. They were proud of their achievements. They knew who they were. The erasing of women can happen in many ways. Some are obviously cruel and inhuman like in Afghanistan. Others are disguised and the damaging effects will take longer to come to light. The questions to ask are why doesn’t the world like women and what can be done about it. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. However, without women none of us would be here today. Women are important. Women everywhere need love, understanding, respect, and appreciation. Women need safe spaces that are only for women. Women need the right to choose the life that they want. Whatever the choose may be, that choose should be respect and honored. Women need to be heard. The opinions and thoughts of women are worthy of consideration.

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Qualifications for Pastors: A Biblical Guide

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 1 Timothy 3:1-7

These scriptures explain the qualifications of someone who wants to be a pastor. Unfortunately, not all preachers understand the implications of these scriptures.

  • Blameless
  • husband of 1 wife
  • vigilant
  • sober
  • good Behavior
  • given to hospitality
  • a teacher
  • not a drunker
  • not greedy
  • patient
  • not a fighter
  • not covetous
  • if he has children, they are to be well behaved
  • not a new Christian

Many years ago, my dad was beginning to attend church regularly. That is until one fatefully Sunday. This Sunday my parents arrived to see the pastor and another man having a fist fight in the parking lot. My dad saw, exclaimed how bad that was, and left. He stopped going to church. He did not regularly attend church after that for many years. Thankfully, he did come back before passing.

Please, if you see a man, who claims to be a pastor, behaving badly don’t give up on God. God gave the rules on how to select a pastor. It is people who choose not to listen and obey. God gave these rules
for a reason. The preacher, in my dad’s case, had chosen to settle a disagreement by brawling. He completely ignored the part about not being a brawler. In addition, his behavior on that day was bad, not good.

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The Heart Behind Actions: Biblical Lessons

My grandpa used to tell a story about one of his most memorable sermons that he preached. This sermon was inspired by an event that happened the night before he preached the sermon. In his story, he said that he got up to preach and said, “I beat the fire out of my wife last night, and I did right.” The congregation gasped according to him. He then asked the congregation how many believed that he did wrong. Everyone raised their hand. He went on to explain that he did right, and it is not what you do as much as it is why you do it. He then explained that it was cold last night when his wife took a shower. After she got out, she put on her gown and backed up to the space heater. Her gown then caught fire. In her fear, she ran. He had run after her, caught her, and put her on the ground to beat the fire out of her. If he would not have beat the fire out of her, she could have died. He then asked then again if he had done right. Everyone agreed that he had done right.

In the Bible Jesus implied that you could do things outwardly correctly but still not be right with him. Let’s look at a few scriptures.

  • Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:27-28

According to this they appear righteous unto men, but they are full of sin. They are so busy trying to follow all the rules that they forget the most important.

  • Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:7-9

It looks like it is a heart issue. Just doing things is not good enough.

  • Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:22-23

From this we get that you must have a relationship with Jesus. Just keeping commandments and doing good will not get you to heaven. You cannot work your way to heaven.

  • That is not to say that obeying the Bible is wrong. Jesus also said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.

Now let’s look at the teaching of Paul.

  • Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. I Corinthians 13:1-4

Charity is translated love in many Bible translations. Jesus pointed out that they were doing things, but their hearts were far from him. Paul teaches that we need love.

Jesus likewise teaches love.

  • Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:36-40
  • We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. I John 4:6-8
 
If what you are doing for God is not based on love of God, please examine your motives and heart. You don’t want to hear at the end of time, depart from me, I never knew you.
 
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Flexibility and Strength: Life Lessons from Trees

Trees are a marvel of nature. Some stand tall and large, while others are diminutive and short. No two trees are precisely the same; even two oaks will differ.

Similarly, people are unique. Even within the same family, two individuals may not share the same reactions or perspectives. Each person possesses distinct strengths and talents, and no single talent surpasses another. Just as no tree species is superior to another, some are simply more suitable for certain environments, while others are out of place. For instance, an oak tree is out of place on a sandy beach, whereas a palm tree thrives there. Both tree types are wonderful, each with their own advantages and limitations, akin to people.
The trees that endure the longest are those that flex and sway with the wind, knowing when to bend and when to stand firm. This principle applies to people as well. Those who are inflexible tend to suffer from stress-related ailments and may have shorter lifespans. In contrast, those who discern when to adapt and when to stand their ground often lead longer, more fulfilling lives.
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The Curious Case of Joe: A Parenting Story

It started out as a normal afternoon for Jennifer. As usual, she had walked over to a neighboring apartment to tutor a boy in reading. After the lesson was over, Gab had asked to play with her son Levi. Therefore, Gab, Alex, and Levi went outside to play. Gab and Alex’s grandfather sat outside to watch them because their mother was busy. Jennifer stood and watched all three boys, but mostly her son, Levi. Levi is big for his age; however, he is only 2 years old.
Jennifer saw a car pull into a parking place. She noticed that 2 or 3 children got out of the car. Then she went back to watching the three boys. After a few minutes, it was time for Jennifer to walk back and start cooking supper. Alex and Gab were sad. Alex started following Jennifer and Levi on his scooter. Another boy was outside riding his scooter also. Let’s call him Joe. Joe started trying to play with Alex. Alex’s brother followed after him. Their grandfather followed both of the boys.Joe and Alex decided to race on their scooters. However, they went a different way back around the apartment building.  Because of this, Jennifer decided to let Levi ride his bike around the apartment building to make sure that Alex made it back home. Gab had already started walking back to his grandfather. When Alex got to the corner, his mother was waiting on him. As Jennifer and Levi were heading home, Joe started trying to play with Levi. Jennifer told him that Levi had to go inside because she needed to cook supper. When Jennifer got back to her apartment, she told Levi to say bye, bye to Joe. Joe then said, “I am going to go and get my bike.” Jennifer and Levi went inside. A few minutes later Joe was back with his bike and knocking at the door. Jennifer went to the door to see who was there. As she tried to explain that Levi could not go outside and play, Joe came inside. He then started playing with the toys in the living room. Jennifer then started trying to explain to Joe that he could not just come inside and play. Joe is only about 6 years old. Jennifer asks Joe where his mother is. He simply ignores her. Jennifer’s mother, Kay, lives with her. Therefore, Jennifer goes and gets her. Both Kay and Jennifer start trying to find out where Joe lives. They both ask him many questions including his name, where he lives, and where his mother lives. He does not answer. Jennifer gets Joe to go back outside. However, before she can get back inside, he goes back in.  Kay calls, Ms. Connie, the apartment manager. Ms. Connie asks Joe the same questions. Finally, he tells Ms. Connie his last name. Ms. Connie looks and discovers that only one apartment has that last name. She calls, but they are not missing a child. The child has now been inside Jennifer’s apartment for 30 minutes. Ms. Connie tells Kay to call 9-1-1. Kay calls 9-1-1. She explains the situation. They inform her that there are no missing children in the area. Kay explains to them that the boy must be missing and either way someone needs to come and get his little boy. About 30 minutes later a police officer knock on the door. Jennifer goes outside and explains to him what has happened. He then comes inside and asks the boy, “Where are your parents?” The boy says, “Right here” while pointing to his pants. Jennifer tries not to laugh. The police officer then says, “Not your pants, your parents. Where are your mom and dad?” The boy says that he does not have a dad. Therefore, the police officer continues by asking, “Where is your mom?” The boy finally indicates that she is over in one of the other apartments. The police officer tells the boy, “Let’s take a walk and go see her.” The boy takes the police officer right to her. After taking the boy home, the police officer comes back to Jennifer’s apartment. He asks a couple of clarifying questions and leaves. A few minutes later the boy and his mother come. The boy’s mother is angry because the police was called. She explains that the boy was not missing. The babysitter was sitting on the steps. Kay asks, “But where was your child?” This only makes the mother angrier. However, she leaves with the boy. About 15 minutes later the boy is back. This time he is standing at the corner of the building. He watches as Jennifer moves one of Levi’s toys inside.

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