PROMISES – – – EASTER PROMISES ! ! !

April 7, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Jesus clearly said He would rise from death in three days.
Later, He even said, “I told you so.”
On the day He died, who believed Him ?
After He died, what did His followers do ?
Where did they go ? They hid behind locked doors.
After Jesus appeared to them, they were still hiding.
– – –
We have Jesus’ promise, and proof, of His resurrection.
And we have multitudes more promises of what He will do for us.
Do we know those promises ?
Do we believe them, or just know them ?
If we believe them, do we count on them, and act on them publicly ?
Do we accept danger and opposition and real trouble, real cost, real persecution ?
Of all the people we know, who knows that we carry the name of Jesus with us wherever we go ?
– – –
– – –
After Jesus appeared to His disciples, they were still hiding . . .
UNTIL . . .

Until the Holy Spirit came after ten days of prayer after Jesus went back to heaven.
Then, all-heaven broke loose, and Peter preached, and the others preached in all the languages of the foreigners in Jerusalem celebrating the Jewish feast of Pentecost—and 3000 people became believers in Jesus.
– – –
– – –
What about us, today ?
Same as day one.
UNTIL we pray and receive the Holy Spirit . . .

All-heaven can break loose in our lives at any time, and we can boldly tell everyone about Jesus who died in our place and rose back to life so we can too.
We start by making sure “all the people we know, know that we carry the name of Jesus with us wherever we go.”

Filed Under: Faith Based, Inspirational

HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

March 22, 2023 By Leave a Comment

That is another oxymoron, of the highest order.

When ‘Christianity’ became the official religion of the Roman Empire a few hundred years after Jesus’ ascension, it was not good for the church.
That turned into power for the Catholic Church, and power always generates a craving for more power.
And so, the Catholic Church found no limits to extending their power and control over the people—spiritually, financially, politically.

When the Reformation freed many Christians to rediscover a true relationship with God and reading the Bible themselves, the Catholic Church doubled down on their authority over the members.
It remains an amazing mystery how they can maintain so much control over so many people.
The massive power of the Catholic Church continues to this day—not much different from days of The Holy Roman Empire.

“Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
“An observation that a person’s sense of morality lessens as his or her power increases. The statement was made by Lord Acton, a British historian of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.”

We see before our eyes today increasing corruption from such power—in the church.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Financial, Political---Cultural

HOW CAN WE KNOW WHAT’S TRUE ?

March 18, 2023 By Leave a Comment

How can we know if something is true?

Start by asking another question,
How can we know if it’s from God?

And, another question,
How does it match with the Bible?

– – –

“They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

“Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.”

– – –

So the search for truth boils down to this—sooner or later we must recognize that the Bible is the source of truth and the standard for truth to measure everything.

The search for truth brings another soul-searching question,
Do I want to do the will of God?

Then the search for truth is up to the individual’s willingness to spend time in the Bible every day. It’s that simple.

– – –

Warning: Remember Satan’s first words in the third chapter of the Bible—effective then and ever since,
“Did God really say, . . .?”

Filed Under: Faith Based, Inspirational

FOUNDATIONS – – – ROOTS – – – RESULTS

March 18, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Trees by a river don’t wither, because their roots have access to water.
They produce year after year.
Without deep roots and water, plants dry up and blow away with the wind in summer.

Houses built on rock don’t settle or shift because their foundations are secure.
They stand year after year.
Without solid base, houses sink and wash away with the wind and water in storms.
– – –
Individuals and nations, and city leaders, that walk in step with ungodly council, that stand with people promoting sin, that sit alongside those who scorn any mention of the things of God—will bring destruction.
Politicians check the wind, and follow accordingly.

It was not so in the rock-solid foundation of this country, the Bible.
Statesmen check the truth, and lead accordingly.
– – –
The following words apply to individuals—and they still apply to individuals who become civic leaders:

The Bible says,
“Blessed is the man
Who does not walk in step with ungodly council,
Who does not stand with those promoting sin,
Who does not sit with those who scorn the things of God;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.”

Jesus said,
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Political---Cultural

HOW MANY ?

March 15, 2023 By Leave a Comment

HOW MANY STARS IN THE SKY ?
HOW MANY GRAINS IN THE SAND ?
HOW MANY HAIRS ON MY HEAD ?

A multitude of Bible verses about the stars.
My favorite is a very short end of a verse in creation, “. . . and He made the stars also.”—minor detail ? just to show the magnitude of our God.
How many stars ? Only God knows, “He tells the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names.”—minor detail ? just to show the magnitude of our God.

I wonder how the number of stars in the sky compares to the number of grains of sand on the earth.
God doesn’t miss an opportunity to show His love with big numbers in creation beyond our counting.
“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand.”— minor detail ? just to show the magnitude of our God.
How many grains of sand ? How many times does God think about me ?

Our concern about losing our hair—not to worry, God keeps track of every one.
How does that detail compare to the ‘big’ things that give us anxiety ?
“Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear . . .”—minor detail ? just to show the magnitude of our God.
How many hairs ? Enough for Jesus to bother to count to tell us to not fear.

Filed Under: Faith Based, Inspirational

ULTIMATE ULTRASOUND

March 15, 2023 By Leave a Comment

God has feelings, strong feelings about everything He created, and keeps on creating—most especially people, made ‘in His image.’
– – –
When God made the world, He simply said “it was so” and “it was good.”
When God made man and gave him dominion over everything, He said “it was so” and “it was VERY GOOD!”
– – –
God is pleased with all of His creation, but He has special feelings for the people He created—love and sadness, smile and frown, joy and grief, pleasure and anger, compassion and regret—feelings demonstrated in action—mercy and judgment, forgiveness and justice, patience and accountability, day of grace and day of reckoning.
– – –
Consider God’s very special feelings about the little children He created and still creates with us, safe and unseen ?
He sure talks a lot about His feelings for them in His Book.
– – –
Consider His horror over harm to any of them.
– – –
What about the person who causes such harm ?
“If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble . . . “
– – –
What about the death of a child ?
– – –
What about the murder of a child ?
– – –
What about the person who causes the murder of a child ?
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble (to sin) (to die), it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
– – –
– – –
Before I was born, God knew all my DNA.
Before I was born, God knew my every breath.
Before I was born, God knew my life’s history.
– – –
Why all the trouble with details ?
Because, besides all that, He loves me, He wants a relationship with me after I’m born, just like He had already knowing all about me for the nine months before I was born.
– – –
Who would dare to mess with a God like that ?
– – –
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You. [When I am born, I am still with You.]

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.”
– – –
– – –
And that is
THE ULTIMATE ULTRASOUND ! ! !

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Family, Health, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time

BARTERING – – – ! or ?

March 12, 2023 By Leave a Comment

In the old days, bartering was part of everyday life, for survival.
Today, bartering still has its benefits.

But what about the following list for bartering?
Bartering for blessings ?
Bartering for blame ?
Bartering for confession ?
Bartering for absolution ?
Bartering for forgiveness ?
Bartering for mercy ?
Bartering for salvation ?
Bartering for my soul ?
Bartering for baffling questions ?
Bartering for answers ?
Bartering for points ?
Bartering before the judge ?
Bartering before the devil ?
Bartering with God ?
Bartering for life ?
Bartering for eternal life ?
– – –
No bartering—for “parts that are for keeps” !
Yes bowing—before my Maker, the Master !

“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.”

Filed Under: Faith Based, Financial, Inspirational

SAY “NO” – – – SAY “YES”

March 12, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Say “No” to the devil, and he will go.

Say “Yes” to Jesus, and He will come.

– – –

Be sure to say “No” to the devil in the name of Jesus, in His power.

Be sure to not leave a vacuum in your soul after you tell the devil to go, or he will return with multiple demons and worse devastation.

Be sure to open the door and invite Jesus to come and control every part of your life.

– – –

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat and drink with him.”

Filed Under: Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

WORRY – – – ANTICIPATION OF THE UNKNOWN

March 12, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Every counsel to not worry has a flipside—that we must plan—that we must take care of things.

There is a serious problem when we apply human counsel to flip Bible verses to fit our thinking for ourselves.

“God helps those who help themselves” is not even in the Bible—it doesn’t match with the Bible.

“ Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”

“Take no thought for tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. The problems of tomorrow will be sufficient for tomorrow. [Don’t add tomorrow’s troubles onto today.]”

Here are the verses immediately before:
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed?
(For the unbelievers seek after all these things.) Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Financial, Health, Inspirational, Time

MARTIN AND KATHARINA

March 8, 2023 By Leave a Comment

MARTIN LUTHER AND HIS WIFE KATHARINA—LESSONS FOR CATHOLICS—500 YEARS AGO AND TODAY

Martin and Katharina married in 1525, eight years after the beginning of the Reformation.

He was a Catholic priest (excommunicated in 1521), and she was a Catholic nun (escaped from a convent with eleven other nuns, like a prison breakout, masterminded by Luther in 1523).
Luther made this comment on the decision to marry, “his marriage would please his father, rile the pope, cause the angels to laugh, and the devils to weep.”[
They had a blessed family, with six children plus several orphans—heartwarming, described as “affectionate, loving, fruitful, faithful, and enduring.”

– – –

It is obvious to any observer that the perpetual Catholic policy of celibacy for priests and nuns persisting today is a perfect storm (tornado, hurricane, wildfire), waiting to happen—not waiting—happening like tsunamis all over the church.

It should be obvious to Catholic leaders that change of policy on celibacy is the only Biblical solution, the only common sense solution.

Get real.

Is it too much to sacrifice this huge 2000 year Catholic edifice?

Is it easier for Catholic leadership to sacrifice more thousands of child victims of abuse at the hands of those burning with passion, enduring the manmade mandate against Biblical release only in Godly marriage.

Catholics, get a reality check.

It’s time for the fear of God to shake the church—fear greater than the fear of losing power.

“Whoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe in Me to fall, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the sea.”

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Family, Inspirational, Political---Cultural
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