A Personal Story To Lift One's Spirit!

[Hat tip for graphic:  Network 54.com]


Christians are to emulate [meaning follow] Jesus.  Just as He was "not of this world," (meaning not being of the earthly "kingdoms" set up by man and avoiding the pitfalls of evil that surround us), so too are we to not be of this world system.  We are to work within the world,  for the specific and ultimate purpose of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is certainly a rewarding mission!  Yet, the distractions of this world can get any one's heart downtrodden and sad.

Recall the Scriptures, especially in Psalms, where the sons of Korah (temple assistants) ask the question, "Why are you cast down O my soul?"

One example:

Psa 43:5     Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Notice the answer in all three separate Scriptures at that link:

 "Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God."

These days, the turmoil and chaos happening in the Middle East,  and looming threat of  America getting involved in another war in Syria certainly highlight the truth of the prophecies that tell us "there will be wars and rumors of war" the closer we get to the end times.  While reading the following posts, I could not help but feel depressed!

Walid Shoebat

Conspiracy and Truth are upside down

 

 

Now The End Begins

Russia Sends Warships, Obama Blinks

 

 

Sultan Knish

How Obama Hugged the Brotherhood to Death

 

 

The Strata-Sphere

What Does Egypt’s Unrest Signal?

 

 

INFILTRATED NATION

Does Obama Know He’s Fighting on al-Qa’ida’s Side?

 

 

Klein Online

Iran, North Korea ‘running operations room in Syria.’ Russia also ‘aiding’ Damascus ahead of likely U.S., Western strikes

 

And, if those posts haven't confused you enough, read this one:

 

Answering Muslims

A Short Guide to the Middle East

 

*******

 However, the uplifting experience that I had last night makes such depression "blow to dust and fall away*."
 

You see, when I come back to Scripture, prayer, and worship songs,  I am gladly reminded that God's truth (see 1 John 2:27) provides the right path to follow, and God's light (see 1 John 1:5) provides the clear vision to follow it.  If you feel surrounded by darkness and uncertainty, follow God's light and truth!  He will guide you!
 

 Now, a brief recap of my uplifting experience last night.
 

The early evening began when I met a great friend for dinner. We chatted about some good news within our own families, but then we also got on the topics of the bad news going on in this world.  The threat of war in Syria, the terrible "Common Core" indoctrination into socialism that is happening in public schools, the fact that all the scandals happening are increasing and no one is being held accountable...you get the picture! 
 

My friend asked me if I would hold a Bible study in my home again like I did several years ago.  Great idea! Or, perhaps we could find an evening study to attend.


Staying in the Word of God helps alleviate the depression, fear, disgust, and anger at what is becoming of America and what is happening around the world!  No matter what...God wins in the end and our Savior and Lord - Jesus Christ - is totally victorious!
 

When I got back from having dinner and completing a quick run to the grocery store, it was already getting dark.  I wanted to walk my two dogs.  So with a flashlight in my pocket I started up the street.  My neighbor was outside, staring into the sky at the last remnants of a beautiful sunset.  She waved at me and yelled that she was praying.  I told her, "nothing like a gorgeous sunset and prayers being sent up to God to lift up one's spirit!"



You see, were are MEANT to worship God ANYWHERE!  In a car, listening to a great praise song.  And, even at the sight of a gorgeous sunset near the end of a neighbor's driveway!

 

I was SO  blessed last night!!!  Why?  Because two simple signs of Christ's Presence with me came shining through!  While driving home, a favorite song came on from the Christian music station called, "The Message."  It was the Newsboy's song entitled, "It Is You."  Seeing my neighbor "coming to this place" [lyrics from the music video below] at the end of her driveway;  worshipping God and praying at the sight of His wondrous creation and beauty of a sunset, gave me Holy Spirit chills of joy!!


Yes, Jesus!  It IS YOU!  It's all about You!


Enjoy a great worship song, "It Is You" by the Newsboys!


In Christ,

~  Christine

 

 

 

As we lift up our hands
Will You meet us here?
As we call on Your name
Will You meet us here?
We have come to this place
To worship You
God of mercy and grace

It is You
We adore
It is You
Praises are for
Only You
The heavens declare
It is You
It is You

And holy, holy is our God Almighty
And holy, holy is His name alone, yeah
And holy, holy is our God Almighty
And holy, holy is His name alone

It is You
We adore
It is You
Only You

As we lift up our hands
As we call on Your name
Will You visit this place
By Your mercy and grace?

 

*******

 

 

*A lyric from Jars of Clay: World's Apart

Hat tips to all links.

1Jo 2:27

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will [fn] abide in Him.

(2:27) NU-Text reads you abide.

1Jo 1:5

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

God Holds Us Up

The more scandals and crises that come out which continue to swirl around this BADministration, the more I realize that God is actively holding us up through His mercy and grace.  The rampant sin that is occurring here in the United States of America, and around the world has ratcheted up ever since BHO became the fraudulent pResident. 

We are definitely in the throes of  the "birth pangs" that Jesus Christ told us would occur the closer we get to the end times.

While walking with my TEA Party friend Donna yesterday, we discussed many things, including whether or not BHO was really as "intelligent" as the media of mass deception wants the public to think.  In the comment section of my last post, I pointed out that one of O's classmates at Columbia attended a class reunion recently, and NO ONE at the reunion recalls EVER seeing BHO on campus.  This particular classmate (Wayne Allen Root) had the same major and attended during the same years as BHO (supposedly) attended.  [See:  Obama Release Your Records: Obama Classmate - No One At Columbia Class Reunion Ever Saw Obama AKA Soetoro.]  Yet he NEVER SAW HIM on campus.  Neither did any of the other classmates at the reunion.  BHO has quite the unusual face that most would admit would be highly recognizable.  But no one remembers seeing him on campus.  Isn't that odd?

I mentioned to Donna that I have always suspected that BHO was just a puppet groomed by communists (i.e. Bill Ayers, George Soros etc.)  and that his "handlers" were actually in charge.  The people [or individual person(s)] puppeteering BHO could range from Soros, to the Bilderberg group, to The Illuminati group, to many other commie/Islamo-fascist groups (like the Muslim Brotherhood), all the way down to individuals like Valerie(evil) Jarrett or even -  as Western Journalism recently reported - John Brennan.

No matter what, the direction that our country is being led down into is a smelly sewer pipe of deception, lies, destruction, targeting of patriots, profiling of ordinary Americans who don't agree with BHO and his ilk.   The list of sleazy cover-ups is getting longer each week and the illegal, unconstitutional, purposeful targeting going on are making a majority of Americans terribly uneasy and downright frightened.

As I listened to the testimonies of the conservative individuals who were targeted (more like profiled) by the IRS during the hearings the other day, I could certainly relate to their fears regarding this horrible government. Since BHO often criticized the TEA Party Patriots (calling them many derogatory names like "tea-baggers"), there is no doubt in my mind that the directive to go after them via the IRS and other government agencies came directly from BHO; which puts quite the chill down my spine.

In fact,  way back in 2009, I participated in my first TEA Party rally (with my friend Donna) because we wanted to warn all of America about BHO and his ilk,  and how awful ObamaSCARE HELLcare would be if it ever passed in Congress.   The crimes have certainly piled up way higher and faster than any of us could have ever imagined!

[Take a moment to view the photos at the above link and see the signs made by participants.]

Well, we are now seeing all such fears come to fruition and even some Democrats now think it is terribly flawed legislation. The question remains just how can WE THE PEOPLE get rid of it?

Back to BHO and how "intelligent" he really is. I said to Donna yesterday, "When BHO called the Navy Corpsmen ...Navy "Corpse men" three times via his teleprompter, I knew that his intellectual capacity was severely limited."  Reading from a teleprompter is one thing, but mispronouncing Navy Corpsmen in such an awful way seemed absolutely ludicrous.  Donna said something back to me that I never even thought of.  She said, "perhaps he mispronounced it purposely - in order to mock them." 

Wow!  Could you imagine if that was the truth?  I can.  BHO has shown his disdain and careless attitude for the military and their families on more than one occasion and those who are paying any kind of attention know this to be true.  The entire Benghazi Cover-up and the downed helicopter filled with SEAL Team Six members are just two examples.

Despite all of the turmoil going on in this world, Christians know Who holds the future.  The redemption available for us via Christ's death, resurrection to life, and ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father demonstrates two important things.  God chose to withhold the punishment that we most certainly deserved and replaced it with mercy; and God chose to give us the grace we don't deserve because of what Christ did for us on the Cross at Calvary.

There will come a time here on earth when Christ will come for His own at the Rapture and whisk us either out of our graves, or, if we are still alive, from the earth to meet Him in the air.  We will then enjoy the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in heaven while the earth is going through seven years of Tribulation.  Right before the enemies of Israel gang up on that State and attack Her, Jesus will return on a white horse with His own who are dressed in fine linen.  Without any arms, Christ will speak words that will defeat the enemies of Israel - only by the words coming from His Holy Mouth.

All the evil that man has tried to do on earth will fall to dust and blow away.  Christ will usher in the Millennial Kingdom on earth and rule; and believers will experience what God wanted for man all along way back in the Garden of Eden.  What a glorious time it will be!

Dear readers, my hope and prayer is that you will choose to answer Christ's question correctly when He asks, "Who do you say that I am?"  

For help with the most important decision of you life, please see THIS PAGE.

God Bless,

 ~ Christine


Hat tips to all links.

Genuine Hope

It is interesting to note that The Handbook of Bible Application [abbreviated below as "HBA"] uses the terms "anticipation," "confidence," and "faith" as synonyms for the term "hope."

BHO ran his 2008 political campaign utilizing the terms "hope" and "change." For many voters (the ones who rejected BHO's first term and subsequently, his second term),  the promises of that campaign ended up turning out to be more like hopelessness and chains of restrictions designed to destroy our beloved Constitutional Republic.

How should we respond to feelings of hopelessness?

There is no one in Scripture better than Job to study when it comes to depression, desperation, and discouragement. [Note:  If unfamiliar with the book of Job, read Job 1:1-22].

Job 1:20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

Job 1:21 And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Job 1:22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

Excerpt from HBA:

Remember that we live in a fallen world.   As we see calamity and suffering in the book of Job, we must remember that we live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished.  When we see a notorious criminal prospering or an innocent child in pain, we say, "That's wrong,."  And it is.  Sin has twisted justice and made our world unpredictable and ugly.

Remember that God is sovereign.  The book of Job shows a good man suffering for no apparent fault of his own.  Sadly, our world is like that.  But Job's story does not end in despair.  Through Job's life we can see that faith in God is justified even when our situations look hopeless.  Faith based on rewards or prosperity is hollow.  To be unshakable, faith must be built on the confidence that God's ultimate purpose will come to pass. (1)
 

Also read Psalm 69:1-36  and realize that hopelessness is an opportunity to trust God.

Read Isaiah 22:1-25 which will help you to keep God's promises in mind.

 

For more about genuine hope and finding true happiness, please view:

 David Jeremiah.org: Beautiful in His Time

[Note:  If pressed for time, you can drag the cursor at bottom of video ahead to 18:20 to get to Dr. Jeremiah's message.]

Events in our lives may seem confusing or even mysterious to us at times, but in God’s time, His plans and purposes are good.

 

 HBA:
 

What are the sources of a believer's hope?

BIBLE READING:  Leviticus 26:1-46

KEY BIBLE VERSE:  Despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies.  I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out, I, the LORD, am their God. (Leviticus 26:44)

A Christian's hope is based on God's faithfulness.  These verse show what God meant when he said he is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6).  Even if the Israelites chose to disobey and were scattered among their enemies, God would still give them the opportunity to repent and return to him.  His purpose was not to destroy them, but to help them grow.  Our day-to-day experiences and hardships are sometimes overwhelming; unless we can see that God's purpose is to bring about continual growth in us, we may despair.  The hope we need is well expressed in Jeremiah 29:11-12:  " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen,'"  Retaining a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen.' "  Retaining hope while we suffer shows we understand God's merciful ways of relating to his people. (2)


If you take the time to listen to Dr. Jeremiah's message today, you will have a huge amount of further insight into how a Christian's hope is based on God's faithfulness!

HBA:

BIBLE READING:  Mark 5:21-43

KEY BIBLE VERSE:  Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, "Don't be afreaid.  Just trust me."  (Mark 5:36)

Hope comes from trusting Christ.   Jairus's crisis made him feel confused, afraid, and without hope.  Jesus' words to Jairus in the midst of crisis speak to us as well:  "Don't be afraid.  Just trust me."  In Jesus' mind, there was both hope and promise.  The next time you feel hopeless and afraid, look at your problem from Jesus' point of view.  He is the source of all hope and promise.
 

When a mere mortal person (especially politicians!) claim to be "the source of all hope and promise," we know that they are lying! 

It was very refreshing to recently hear Senator Marco Rubio state that despite the fact that Time magazine put him on their cover and labeled him as "the savior of the Republican Party," he rejected that title and stressed that there is only ONE SAVIOR - JESUS CHRIST.

HBA:

BIBLE READING:  Romans 5:1-11

KEY BIBLE VERSE:  Since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.  (Romans 5:1-2) (3)

Is that one of the greatest verses you have ever read??  It is for me!!  I often write about how grateful we should be because of Christ's promises in Scripture.  The Romans verse expresses THE greatest of them all.

HBA:

Hope comes from remembering all that God has done for us.   As Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 13:13, faith , hope, and love are at the heart of the Christian life.   Our relationship with God begins with faith, which helps us realize that we are delivered from our past by Christ's death.  Hope grows as we learn all that God has in mind for us; it gives us the promise of the future.  And God's love fills our life and gives us the ability to reach out to others. (4)

Witnessing to unbelievers is more challenging today than in the past.  Why?  Because there are more people who have never read or studied the Bible and they have no idea about the truth it contains!  Plus, many can be swept away by false religions, cults, and even the occult.  People celebrating Satan these days don't even think it's wrong!    The next paragraph will help you through:

HBA:

Hope grows as we depend on God in the difficult times.  For first century Christians, suffering was the rule rather than the exception.  Paul tells us that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome.  This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow.  We rejoice in suffering not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life's difficulties and Satan's attacks to build our character.  The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance--which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future.  You probably find your patience tested in some way every day.  Thank God for those opportunities to grow, and deal with them in his strength (see also James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). (5)

The joy of celebrating God's mercy, grace, and love through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ, never, ever gets old!  The eternal promises that have been given to His children are just that...eternal!
Once a believer has given his old life over to Christ, his new life begins immediately and as Scripture tells us, "no one can snatch him out of His hands."

There is NOTHING on this earth that can satisfy that deep desire to know and fellowship with Jesus Christ.  There is a reason for this.  God has placed eternity into our hearts.  There will always be a hole there, in the spot where Jesus Christ needs to indwell each and every one of us in the form of the Holy Spirit.   Until that moment of surrender we cannot turn the "hole in the heart"  into being made whole again spiritually through Christ!

HBA:

BIBLE READING:  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE:  Brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

Hope grows as we remember the promise of the Resurrection.  Because Jesus Christ came back to life, so will all believers.  All Christians, including those living when Christ returns, will live with Christ forever.  Therefore, we need not despair when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn.  God will turn our tragedies to triumphs, our poverty to riches, our pain to glory, and our defeat to victory.  All believers throughout history will stand reunited in God's very presence, safe and secure.  As Paul comforted the Thessalonians with the promise of the Resurrection, so we should comfort and reassure each other with this great hope. (6)

As believers in Christ, we have confidence, faith, and trust in the God of the universe!  What could possibly compare to that?

Reference source:

(1)  The Handbook of Bible Application.  Second Edition, A Guide for Applying the Bible to Everyday Life, Neil S. Wilson, Editor, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois.  pp. 300-301.
(2)  Ibid.  pp. 299.
(3)  Ibid.  pp. 299.
(4)  Ibid.  pp. 300.
(5)  Ibid.  pp. 300.
(6)  Ibid.  pp. 300.

Blessings - Laura Story

When I first heard about the Sandy Hook school shootings, my heart ached and tears ran down my face! Just like millions of other Americans, I couldn't grasp or even imagine such a tragedy as this would ever happen in our nation! Before I knew about all of this, I trusted that the news media was telling the truth about the matter.

One week after the tragedy was reported, I was on a two hour drive back home. I was listening to the 2013 WOW CD (Best Christian songs and artists of the year) and I heard "Blessings" by Laura Story.

Miraculously, I found much comfort in that song. With over 5 million views, I'm sure a lot of other people have found comfort and have been blessed by it too.

Most of all, I KNOW that the truth of God surpasses all understanding.

He is TRUTH.

He alone can be TRUSTED.

When we are betrayed, lied to, undergoing extreme hardships because of the evil ways of others, or suffering from unimaginable pain, we must remember that God's mercy is always there and that this earth, ultimately, IS NOT OUR HOME.

~ Christine

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

 

From:  "Blessings" by Laura Story

When Mercy Found Me - Rhett Walker Band

"His love has rescued me.  His love has set me free." - Rhett Walker Band - When Mercy Found Me.

Rhett Walker Band - When Mercy Found Me

Something had to give, something had to give

'Cause living my life so wild and free, finally caught up

Oh it left me broken, left me hopeless

But that's where I met Jesus

In one moment everything changed

Who I was got washed away

When mercy found me

My Savior's arms were open wide

And I felt love for the very first time

When mercy found me

When mercy found me

All those days, all those doubts

They don't seem to matter now

His Grace is all I need

His Grace is all I need

And the chains that I was in before

They don't hold me anymore

His love has rescued me

His love has set me free

In one moment everything changed

Who I was got washed away

When mercy found me

My Savior's arms were open wide

And I felt love for the very first time

When mercy found me

My mind found peace

My soul found hope

My heart found a home

In one moment everything changed

Who I was got washed away

When mercy found me

My Savior's arms were open wide

And I felt love for the very first time

When mercy found me

When mercy found me

When mercy found me

When mercy found me

When mercy found me

When mercy found me

Owning It... I Am Responsible

Many of the stories in the news of late have something in common.  Whether it be a politician, an accused criminal, a group of kids on a bus mercilessly disparaging an elderly bus monitor; or even our current Attorney General and pResident in the White House - they all refuse to admit that they are responsible for the trouble they have caused and the sins that they have committed.

There is a right way to own our sins, misdeeds, and failures.  Only sin that is owned can be overcome.

Dr. David Jeremiah shares the story of a well-known attorney in Pennsylvania who pleaded guilty to corruption charges back in 2009.  All of the details of his case, trial, and eventual sentencing were covered extensively in the media.  Dr. Jeremiah chose not to name the individual because it wasn't his goal to focus on the person's failure.  However, he recently highlighted a letter that the man submitted to the judge just prior to his sentencing:

"Your Honor, I take full responsibility  for my actions and in actions.  When I [got involved with the other guilty parties] I knew instantly that was wrong.  I had the responsibility to say no and not to assist them in any way...I knew better and I lacked the courage to say no...  I had the responsibility to refuse them...  I had the ability to do the right thing and say no.  I was wrong for giving in...  I was also wrong not to report this to the authorities...  I was both scared and selfish and I will forever regret that decision.

"...I apologize to my family for the hell I have put them through...

"Second, I apologize to my partners, my employees and my friends.  I am truly sorry...

"Third, my sincere apologies to [my] clients...

"To the Court, I apologize for the damage I caused...

"Last but not least, I apologize to the people of [our] County and ask for their forgiveness...The people of [our] County did not deserve this long nightmare.  For that I am truly sorry...

"I completely respect this Court and I am prepared to accept your decision.  I am confident your decision will be just.  Thank you.  Respectfully submitted, [Name]."

Dr. Jeremiah goes on to say that he can't make a judgment as to whether or not the accused meant what he said. That's between him and God. Only God truly knows the content of any one's heart, of course. Words can be cheap and often are in court cases when a person suddenly has a "courtroom conversion" experience in order to escape the judgment about to be rendered. In this man's case, he didn't mention God at all.

It is important to recognize that the man did not ask for letters from others who could have spoken on his behalf. His own admission of guilt and subsequent apology (it was a 1,400 letter of penance) was the only one submitted to the judge.

 The man ended up getting the maximum sentence in prison. The judge cited that he could have said "no" and walked away without becoming involved.

"Only sin that is owned can be overcome."

That is an important concept in Christianity. However, there are some Christian writers who (unfortunately) skip over the need for confession and repentance before asking God's forgiveness at the foot of the cross of Christ. Let me explain.

Two days ago, I was in a Christian book store looking for extra copies of the famous "Bible Promise" book. The two store clerks were busy with other customers when I arrived, so I started looking for the book on my own. I came across one book that intrigued me. The cover mention Jesus and the words he shared in the gospels. It was categorized by subject, ( e.g. "faith," "love," "giving," "mercy," "grace," etc.).   I was hopeful that I had found a good substitute in case I could not find the Bible Promise book. As I read the table of contents, I noticed that there was nothing in there that called for confession of sin, repentance, or ASKING for forgiveness. There was mention of God's forgiveness, but the act of man's part in all of this was missing! I was saddened. I thought that I had found a book that would share the gospel message accurately, but I was wrong! I often refer to such "Christianity" as the cross less gospel.

When Jesus came to John for water baptism at the time he was about to start his ministry, John the Baptist stated emphatically what the people needed to do:

Mar 1:3 "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' " [fn] Mar 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Jesus himself stated the need for individuals to repent:

Mar 1:14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom [fn] of God,

Mar 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Every sin by an individual is FIRST a sin against God.  Therefore, every person needs to own his/her sin before God.

We can learn a hard lesson from King David.  In his psalm of confession for the sins of murder, deceit, and adultery, he said to God, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight."  (Psalm 51:4)

David could not make things right with the dead man, and he did sin against other people.  But what was meant by the term "only" was "ultimately."  Ultimately, every sin ever done by all people across time unto eternity, is done against God.

David Jeremiah explains:

Eugene Peterson captures the sense of David's words to God in The Message:    "You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil."

How "politically incorrect" is THAT statement translation in today's world!  Oooohhh!  You can't call anyone "evil" or accuse them of doing "evil" these days.  That's a BIG NO-NO! But Jesus called people and their deeds evil:


Mat 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Mat 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

  Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"


Dr. Jeremiah emphasized that we all must admit, "I have sinned." He writes:

We can't say, "I was forced to sin," "I was influenced to sin," "I was taught to sin," or " accidentally sinned." Those kinds of blame-shifting words are used when we have not yet arrived at the point of accepting full responsibility for our actions. There is no more contrite record of confession in the bible than that of King David following the revelation of his sins in Psalm 51. The only thing he didn't ask God to forgive him for was not coming forward on his own to confess his sins. It was only after Nathan the prophet confronted David, nearly a year after his sins, that David confessed (2 Samuel 12:1-14). The Anglican/Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer contains a General Confession that beautifully highlights both kinds of sin--commission and omission: "We have left undone those things which we ought to have done [omission]; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done [commission]; and there is no health in us." David confessed his sins of commission (murder, adultery), but should also have confessed his failure to come forward on his own (deceit) without having to be called out by God's prophet. But we get the sense from the depth of his anguish in Psalm 51 that he is confessing everything to God. He confesses not as the King of Israel who might have made excuses or asked for allowances. He confessed as a guilty sinner who was finally willing to own his sin.

If we paused here, I could name dozens, if not hundreds of sins that have been committed by our current excuse-making government. It is a sad but true fact that those who think they will "get away with it" in this life, certainly will not in eternity. There is but ONE WAY to overcome our sin. His name is Jesus Christ and his work was at the Cross at Calvary!

Dr. Jeremiah continues:

Only sin that is owned can be overcome. And I don't mean overcome only in the sense of a recurring sin. I also mean overcome in the sense of putting right that which sin has tainted. Sometimes the results of sin cannot be reversed. We all have learned that grievous lesson. But to the extent that relationships can be repaired, reparations made, and reconciliation enjoyed, owning and overcoming are prerequisites. First, we have to repent of our sin. Like Christ told the church at Ephesus, we must "repent and do the first works" -- the works of righteousness (Revelation 2:5). Repent means to change your mind; it means to turn and go the opposite way; it means to stop sinning. Second, we have to acknowledge (confess) our sin to God and to any against whom we have sinned, and ask their forgiveness: "I have sinned. Would you please forgive me?" (1 John 1:9) Third, we need to make reparations where we can. If our actions have caused loss to others, we must restore what they have lost to the best of our ability (Proverbs 6:30-31, where "sevenfold" suggests "payment in full"). Fourth, we must covenant with God to seek His power to avoid repeating the sin (Job 31:1). Regardless of how often we sin, we must purpose not to sin again. May God grant you and me the grace to be responsible--to own and overcome every sin!

It is only after the act of confession and repentance of sin that God with grant us mercy and grace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Mercy is God withholding what we deserve. Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross and taking my own sin upon your body so that I could be cleansed from all unrighteousness and have the Holy Spirit indwelling in my heart! You left my sin, and all the sins of the world behind in that grave when you rose again on Resurrection Sunday!  You're AMAZING LORD!  What an awesome Savior you are!!




Hat Tip:

Dr. David Jeremiah's Turning Points Magazine and Devotional:  The Faultline - Living on the Edge of Irresponsibility, May, 2012 pp. 21-23.

What Could Be Better Than This?

Tonight I am studying an awesome portion of Scripture. It is 1 Peter 1:1-16. The gospel of Jesus Christ is revealed through these verses and reiterates why our Lord Jesus Christ faced the horrible death on the cross for the joy that was to come after His subsequent resurrection from the dead.

Why?

For our sakes!

  These verses help us, as Christians, to endure the trials and tribulations that we face in this world; for they are temporary and this world is finite. The joy of the Lord that we will share in as we praise Him in heaven will be ours for all eternity! What could be better than that?

~ Christine

1Pe 1:1   Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,


1Pe 1:2   who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.


1Pe 1:3   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


1Pe 1:4   and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,


1Pe 1:5   who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.


1Pe 1:6  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.


1Pe 1:7   These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.


1Pe 1:8   Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,


1Pe 1:9   for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.


1Pe 1:10   Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,


1Pe 1:11   trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.


1Pe 1:12   It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.


1Pe 1:13   Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.


1Pe 1:14   As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.


1Pe 1:15   But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;


1Pe 1:16   for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." [fn]

  Footnote: (1:16) Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7

  The holiness of God is claimed throughout Scripture. We are admonished to be holy because He (God) is holy. That is certainly a tall order! We can't even dream of being as holy as God! But we can strive for it each and every day of our lives. We will never "arrive" at the kind of holiness that God requires, so that is why Jesus Christ came to the earth to suffer and die for our sins on the cross at Calvary. It is because of His mercy, grace, forgiveness and love that we are cleansed of our sins and re-united with God.

The sanctification process never ends this side of heaven. However, we can see by the definition of "holy" what we are to strive for through obedience to God's written Word, the Bible, God's Living Word, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit's leading in our lives!

Definition: ho·ly    [hoh-lee] Show IPA adjective, ho·li·er, ho·li·est, noun, plural ho·lies. adjective


1. specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated: holy ground

2. dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion: a holy man.

3. saintly; godly; pious; devout: a holy life.

4. having a spiritually pure quality: a holy love.
. entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred: a holy relic.

6. religious: holy rites.

World English Dictionary holy (ˈhəʊlɪ) — adj , holier , holiest

1. of, relating to, or associated with God or a deity; sacred
 
2. endowed or invested with extreme purity or sublimity

3. devout, godly, or virtuous


Word Origin & History holy O.E. halig "holy," from P.Gmc.

 *khailagas (cf. O.N. heilagr, Ger. heilig, Goth. hailags "holy"), adopted at conversion for L. sanctus. Primary (pre-Christian) meaning is not impossible to determine, but it was probably "that must be preserved whole or intact, that cannot be transgressed or violated,"

Hat tip: Blue Letter Bible

Thanksgiving: It Is Right To Give Him Thanks and Praise

Many of my readers who know my background will recall that I have done several blog posts that told stories about my Catholic upbringing. If you are Catholic, or are a former Catholic, then you know all about the ritualistic responses that are often given during the church service. Saying the words for so many years ingrains them into our minds. One of those responses that the congregation says in response to the priest (I think it was done just before receiving communion) is "It is right to give Him thanks and praise."

Today is Thanksgiving. It is a special day set aside for the purpose of giving thanks to God for all that He has done for us in our lives here on this earth. Even in the midst of all of the chaos and uncertainty in today's complicated world, we can still be very thankful for many reasons.

First, I am so very thankful (every day, in fact), for Jesus saving me from the punishment I deserve because of my sins. Christ's sacrificial death on the cross is a gift of mercy and grace, offered to us by the Living God. Mercy is God withholding what you (I, we) deserve. Grace is God giving you (me, us) what you (I, we) don't deserve.

I am so very grateful to God for the blessing of my family. My role as a wife and mother has joy that no other "career" could ever be compared with. It is a sacrificial role at times, but one that also gives many of the greatest joys!

I am so very grateful to live in a country where liberty, independence, justice and freedom still reigns. As my former post stated, God's Hand Was In Our Nation's Founding. But He has made us stewards over this nation and what we do to preserve such freedoms is crucial to our survival.

Because of nefarious individuals who have untold amounts of wealth and power and are, unfortunately, out to destroy this nation; any or all of these freedoms could be gone tomorrow.

But God has a bigger and better future for us anyway, for we are encouraged to be "not of this world."

Jhn 8:23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."

Those who trust in, and believe in God's Son, Jesus Christ, have our Living Savior and God's Word of Truth in the Bible to comfort us - no matter what kind of trials and tribulation we may experience here on earth.

After all that Jesus Christ has done for us, it is right to give Him thanks AND PRAISE not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of our lives! The word "praise" appears in Scripture 237 times in 206 verses in the NKJV.

1Ch 29:13 "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.

Hbr 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips, giving thanks to His name.

Last Sunday, I had written about not being conformed to this world, but be transformed through the power of Jesus Christ in a post called When Changing Your Mind Could Save Your Life.

Paul's words in Romans 12:1-2 tells us to be "living sacrifices." Paul told the Romans (and he tells us) that protection against conformity and power to be transformed can happen only if we sacrifice ourselves:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2

What a fabulous verse to live by!

We have seen what sinful men have done in this country, and to our nation, over decades worth of heavy drifting away from God's Commandments in the Bible. However, I have also seen God working in my life in such a way that allows me to have peace despite all the turmoil going on in this nation and around the world.

Dr. David Jeremiah informs us:

In this verse (Romans 12:1-2) God has given us two commands. Obeying the second command gives us the power to obey the first:

* DO NOT be conformed by the power of the world around you. That power comes from Satan.

* DO submit to the process of transformation. The power to do that comes from God and His Word.

[O]ur overarching need is to learn how we can live positive, optimistic lives concerning our future while living in a disintegrating society that threatens to take us down with it.

For more details about the means by which this transformation is accomplished, please click on the video sermon link at When Changing Your Mind Could Save Your Life.

Also see: You Can Know God Personally.

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your time with family and friends!  May God bless you and your loved ones today!

~Christine

Sharing The Bread Of Life

I just began reading Max Lucado's latest book, "Outlive Your Life - You Were Made to Make a Difference." It was one of the gifts that my son bought me for Christmas. Since I had two other books to read before getting to this one, it has taken me two months to start Lucado's book.

I really enjoy Lucado's writing style. He always places some humorous anecdotes in his books while revealing profound truth about living the Christian life that Jesus would have us live. Even though I am only on page 40, the book has already had a great impact on my life.

After reading several pages of Lucado's book, I decided to go online and read what has been published on some of my favorite blogs. However, I got that usual annoying message that my borrowed laptop was "in need of repair." I wanted to skip over that, so I clicked on the choice "start windows manually." Well, after looking at a blank dark screen (except for the tiny "Microsoft" trademark message at the bottom of the page) for fifteen minutes, I decided it might be a good idea to listen to the recommendation to start up using the repair mode. So, I shut the computer off, restarted it, and this time I clicked on the "start up repair (recommended)" icon.

After watching the repair message at work for what seemed like 15 more minutes, I clicked on the choice to "cancel repair." Well...I must have waited too long because the message I got said something like this:

"The current repair session cannot be cancelled."

Lucky for me, it only took about five more minutes for the repair to be completed. I still had a bit of trouble. My computer was supposed to restart on it's own, but nothing was happening so I shut it off myself and then restarted it.

I thought about the statement, "the current repair session cannot be cancelled" and thought of God's mercy and grace through the cross of Christ. It must have been because I was reading Max Lucado's book that I drew a parallel between the computer message and God's message to mankind.

I have often stated here at this blog that Mercy is God withholding what we do deserve, and Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve. The gospel of salvation through the cross of Christ is the world's "current repair session that cannot be cancelled."

In chapter four, Lucado shares a humorous story about going on an errand, at the request of his wife, to buy bread at the grocery store. When he gets there, he collects his favorite cereal, milk, Oreo cookies, barbecue chips (does this guy love junk food or what??) and some ice cream. He checked out and went home. His wife looks at the purchases and then asked, "where's the bread?"

Max had forgotten the big item.

"The one thing I went to get. The one essential product. I forgot the bread."

Lucado goes on to write:

Might we make the same mistake in a more critical arena? In an effort to do good, we can get distracted. We feed people. We encourage, heal, help, and serve. We address racial issues and poverty. Yet there is one duty we must fulfill. We can't forget the bread.

Peter didn't.

Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you now this. God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. (Acts 2:22-24 CEV).

[Peter] would eventually speak about poverty. The church would soon address the issues of widows, disease, and bigotry. But not yet. The first order of the church's first sermon was this: pardon for all our sins. Peter delivered the bread.

[Would] you consider the offer of Jesus? "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again" (John 6:35 NLT).

Max Lucado gives us some insight into what it takes to make bread.

The grain-to-bread process is a demanding one. The seed must be planted before it can grow. When the grain is ripe, it must be cut down and ground into flour. Before it can become bread, it must pass through the oven. Bread is the end result of planting, harvesting, and heating.

Jesus endured an identical process. He was born into this world. He was cut down, bruised, and beaten on the threshing floor of Calvary. He passed through the fire of God's wrath, for our sake. He "suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all--was put to death and then made alive--to bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18 MSG).

Bread of Life? Jesus lived up to the title. But an unopened loaf does a person no good. Have you received the bread? Have you received God's forgiveness?

What an awesome and powerful analogy!

Our God is a God of second chances! If we will simply believe that Jesus is who He said He is - the Son of God, Savior and Lord, and we confess our sins at the foot of the cross of Calvary and accept him as Lord and Savior of our lives, we will be forgiven and saved. People, make sure that you receive the Bread of Life of Christ Jesus. The ONLY Bread of Life that really matters now and will ultimately matter in eternity.

Someone very dear to me and my family passed away in January. I can't know for sure if this family member was saved, but I tried my best to witness to her over the course of 15 or more years.

I usually do not share detailed personal information at this blog, but I will state that in the eulogy that I wrote for the funeral, I was led to share the gospel of Christ for the sake of the people attending. I do not know if what I said encouraged anyone there who is not yet saved to receive the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. Perhaps a seed or two were planted. However, when someone dies we realize just how brief this life on earth truly is. The Bible tells us that "it is but a vapor" compared to eternity.

Once a Christian receives the Bread of Life, it is our duty to pass it on. Max Lucado writes:

After all, if we don't, who will? Governments don't feed the soul. The secular relief house can give a bed, a meal, and valuable counsel. But we can give much more. Not just help for this life but hope for the next.

[So] along with cups of water, plates of food, and vials of medicine, let there be the message of sins forgiven and death defeated.

Remember the bread.

The secular world climate these days reveals an open hostility towards Christianity in general, and Jesus Christ in particular. Despite the fact that believers are often ridiculed and hatred is constantly being hurled at us, we must turn our distress, sadness, and fears into boldness so that we continue to be faithful ambassadors for Christ.

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:19-21 NLT).

Hat Tip:

Max Lucado: Out Live Your Life

The 23rd Psalm

Psa 23:1 [[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.


Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.


Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.


Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.


Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.


Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Also read:

A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23

The God Who Shepherds Us

The God Who Invites Us to Rest

The God Who Guides Us

The God Who Is With Us

Why Humankind Needs the Savior

Way back in May of 2005, I created a post over at my Talk Wisdom Forum entitled, De-homosexualization of the Catholic Church. Ever since, GMpilot has been obsessed with the subject matter. Read through the thread and you will know what I mean.

The thread began with the following observation (plus a copy of an essay at WorldNetDaily - go to link above to read WND essay):

I have to admit that prior to reading this article, I did not know the genuine reason why Pope John Paul II was not more condemning of the homosexual pedophile priests and the Cardinals who shuffled them around to other churches where such priests, unfortunately, were enabled to molest more and more young boys. This scandal absolutely sickened most of the public and the suffering of the victims was just horrendous!

I just couldn't understand, for the life of me, why Pope John II acted indifferent towards the scandal. I wasn't aware of the genuine reason he refused to believe that it was actually going on. The following certainly explains a lot and helped clear up the mystery:


Quote:

"Whenever Vatican investigators brought the results of their vetting process regarding an individual's candidacy for bishop, cardinal or other office, and they revealed he was a homosexual, John Paul II would refuse to believe it," he writes.


"He did so because accusing someone of homosexuality was a standard practice of the Communist government in his native Poland regarding anyone it regarded as an enemy of the state. From his ordination as a Catholic priest in 1946 to elevation to Archbishop of Krakow in 1963 and Cardinal in 1967, the then Karol Wojtyla witnessed this personal destruction repeatedly. So traumatized, he summarily dismissed such accusations as pope, and would approve the elevation of anyone so accused."

Christine

*******

Since GM was continually talking to himself within the thread, five years and six pages later, I posted the following:

Satan's grip on souls through sexual perversion



Sexual sin/perversion is one of the most difficult sins to overcome. No doubt about it.
__________________
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Then, GMpilot had this to say in reply:

So who needs Satan?

Quote:
admin: Sexual sin/perversion is one of the most difficult sins to overcome. No doubt about it.

But it's all part of The Plan™, isn't it?

God will make it all turn out in the end, won't he?

All that social turmoil, all those disgraced clergymen, all those shattered lives...God will use it all for good, yeah? Isn't that what you always say?

Yet after five years and fifty posts where I point out how widely and deeply and how many decades this has been going on, all you can say is how difficult sexual sin is to overcome? (I wasn't aware that any sin was easy to overcome!)
Your original posts were so full of fire and vinegar, and now they've dwindled to two little sentences that say nothing. Both the Catholic God and yours make it clear, and you've repeated it on this site often enough; they should die. After all, civil laws were broken, too.

When sex is not permitted to express itself in its proper way, it will always eventually express itself in an improper way. The more it's suppressed, the nastier it blooms. No Satan necessary.

I must admit, "So, who needs Satan?" is an interesting question. In reality, an entire book could be written in reply to such a question. Readers, feel free to share your thoughts about that.

Rather than addressing that particular question [mostly because Satan is, unfortunately, often used as an excuse by those who repeatedly choose to sin. You know - the ole' "the devil made me do it" syndrome], I chose to reply utilizing the Gospel message:

GM,

If the priests were after normal sexual relations, they wouldn't be performing homosexual acts with male children or young teenage and pre-teen boys. Why weren't they going after the beautiful women - who were of the age of consent - from the pews of the churches? Answer: because they were in homosexual/pederasty/pedophile lust for teens and boys.

Those priests who went after pre-pubescent girls were also pedophiles.

But all of this is pointless to discuss with you. You seem to think that because there are priests who are fakes - all must be fakes as well. During my childhood, I learned about a pedophile priest in our church. I only knew that he went after pre-pubescent girls, but perhaps he attacked some boys too. It was all hushed up and they named a street after him in town after he had died.

I also knew of a wonderful priest who kept his celibate vows and was wonderful (in an appropriate manner and way) to all parishioners - especially the children. He died 10 years ago and had a monument placed in a small existing park that was later named after him. There were benches there that were donated by members of the church. He was deeply loved.

There are people who try to live good lives, and there are people who don't. We all fall short of the glory of God. Recall the "good" test I told you to take? No one passes that test. If anyone ever claims that they did pass it - then you know that they lied.

This is why humankind needs the Savior. Jesus Christ was the only sinless God-Man who died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins of all who repent of their sins and believe in him.

Jesus Christ is the living example of mercy and grace through God.

Mercy is God withholding what you (we all) deserve.

Grace is God giving you (all) what you (we all) don't deserve.

There is evidence of grace being bestowed upon unbelievers and even the wicked in this temporal world. Some repent and turn to Christ, others don't. However, the choice to reject Christ (and his mercy and grace) prior to dying negates the chance for salvation after death.

Despite the fact that some who don't believe in Christ seem to have success in this life, it is an entirely different story [according to the Bible] when such individuals die without Christ. Why? Because they have chosen to reject God's mercy and grace for salvation. Therefore, they choose to leave this world to live in eternity separated from God forever.

God has done all that is necessary for salvation. Our job here on this earth is to either accept or reject His provision.
__________________
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Koran Burning? A Teachable Moment. [Update 2]

A strange thing happened as I attempted to close my browser this evening. I am using my husband's laptop tonight and I couldn't get the Sprint connection to "disconnect!" I tried it nine times!

Hmmm....I thought. Is the Lord trying to give me a little message here?

I had just read a blog post over at On The Right Side of Life about the pastor who is planning to do a Koran book burning on 9/11/10.

There is a particular nagging question that each Christian believer must ask himself or herself. That is, with which position do you side?

Do you want to answer in the flesh and say in a revengeful tone "burn baby burn" or answer in the spirit? Which will you choose? Just as Phil asks within his blog post - think about this question: Koran burning? What would Jesus do?

Well, I was tired and just wanted to think about that post for a while. But when my browser refused to disconnect, I went back to my blog list and found that my friend Steve had also posted about the Koran burning debacle on his blog.

While reading his post, the answer came to me.

Mercy is God withholding what we all deserve. Grace is God giving us what we all don't deserve. As born-again, Bible believing, Christ honoring sinners in desperate need of the Savior, how should we apply such thoughts in response to the Koran burning?

Could be quite the teachable moment...

Hat Tips:

On The Right Side of Life

Stevex09

*******

More good reads on the controversy:

Michele Malkin: The Koran - Don't burn it - read it.

Sharp Right Turn: The Koran, General Petraeus, Dhimmitude and American Values

Sarah Palin's Facebook Page

*******
Update:

Apparently, Pastor Jones has listened to the voices of wisdom and reason and announced that he is not going to follow through on the burning of the Koran.

But can this debacle get any crazier? Answer: YES!

The loony-bin Westboro "church" plans to carry out the Koran burning since Pastor Jones will not do it.

Westboro Baptist Church will Burn Korans if Florida Church Does Not
posted by (Maggie Thornton) at Maggie's Notebook - 1 hour ago
The vile Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka says if Florida's Dove World Outreach Center calls off the Koran burnings, they will pick up [the] slack and do it themselves. Dove's Pastor Terry Jones has just an...

But of course, the mosque developers won't change THEIR minds [as has been announced on several news programs today] about the location too close to Ground Zero, despite the fact that Donald Trump has announced that he would pay 25% more than the terrorists er...imams and their supporters...paid for the location.

Koran Burning Halted: Mosque Stays at Park 51
posted by (Maggie Thornton) at Maggie's Notebook - 1 hour ago
Florida Pastor Jones will halt the burning of Korans on Saturday and the Pastor says he will fly to New York City instead, to meet with the mosque developers. Jones seems to believe the mosque will not b...

Good luck Pastor Jones. It doesn't appear that the muslims are likely to show any tolerance towards the 70% of Americans who are pleading that they move the mosque away from the Ground Zero site. Apparently, tolerance is a one-way street for them...and that street is named Islam/Sharia law...or else!

*******
Update 2:

I am making the rounds to several Christian blogs in my blogroll and I am finding some absolutely awesome essays out there! Be sure to visit:


Stevex09: The Threats Begin … Ground Zero Mosque … Burning The Koran

CultureWatch: Christianity, Other Religions, Islam and Terrorism

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

When I was a child and I was being impatient about something, my mom used to say, "good things come to those who wait." When I was seven, a week often felt like an eternity! Today, a week rushes by in a flash!

Today, when I see things going horribly wrong in this nation, I find my comfort comes through renewed strength via prayer. Prayer is so powerful! Oftentimes, we run to God as a last resort when in times of trouble. What we should be doing is praying ever so fervently when it appears that the darkness is attempting to hide the Light of the World.

You can pray at any time. Not just on your knees at bedtime. Pray throughout the day - sending up little prayers asking for mercy and grace upon yourself, your family and this entire nation.

I have been deeply troubled over the proposed mosque being built near where the horrific World Trade Center attack by radical Islamic terrorists happened on 9/11. Last night, I read a blog post that gave me renewed hope that the mosque at Ground Zero will not be built.

JammieWearingFool: 'I Wonder What Else They Are Hiding.'

Excerpt:

'I Wonder What Else They Are Hiding'

Congressman Peter King better watch it. Lil' Mikey Bloomberg might call him a bigot for uttering such a statement.

Not so fast.

The developers of the controversial mosque proposed near Ground Zero own only half the site where they want to construct the $100 million building, The Post has learned.

One of the two buildings on Park Place is owned by Con Edison, even though Soho Properties told officials and the public that it owns the entire parcel. And any potential sale by Con Ed faces a review by the state Public Service Commission.

“We never heard anything about Con Ed whatsoever,” said a stunned Julie Menin, the chairwoman of Community Board 1, which passed a May resolution supporting the mosque.

Daisy Khan, one of the mosque’s organizers, told The Post last week that both buildings on Park Place are needed to house the worship and cultural center. But she claimed ignorance about the Con Ed ownership of 49-51 Park Place and referred questions to Soho Properties, which bought the building at 45-47 Park Place in 2009.

Rep. Peter King, who opposes the mosque, said the developers seemed to be “operating under false pretenses.”

“I wonder what else they are hiding,” said King (R-LI). “If we can’t have the full truth on this, what can we believe?”

Continue reading HERE.

Nice Deb reports on the story, too.

Not So Fast…Ground Zero Mosque Developers Only Own Half Of The Site
posted by nicedeb at Nice Deb » Monday Menagerie - 11 hours ago
Pic of Sharif El Gamal, head of Soho Properties via Islamization Watch The New York Post has the exclusive: The developers of the controversial mosque proposed near Ground Zero own only half the site wher...

While driving home from a visit with my daughter this morning I was thinking about how all of the ineligibility lawsuits against Obama have been dismissed due to "lack of standing" and how fortunate such developments have been for Obama. If we got just one hearing on this in a court of law - I'm sure that Obama would be found out. He is either a lying usurper (if his father is, in fact, Barack Obama Sr.) because Obama Jr. would never qualify as a natural born citizen according to the clause for POTUS in our U.S. Constitution. Or, if his biological father was someone else, then he misrepresented his entire life to the American people! It would mean that he lied in his two books and during many (if not all) of his speeches. Would either revelation horribly disappoint the entire black community? I would think so.

That is when it hit me.

I recall hearing that 88% of African-Americans still support Obama. That is a HUGE amount. Are some of them lying to cover up their real thoughts about him? Did they vote that way in the poll because of political correctness? Do they all agree with his awful policies? Do they think that eventually he will create jobs with his out- of-control spending? Are they just not paying attention? What is the reason why such a disproportionate amount of blacks still support him? Many Hispanics and Independents have left the approval-rating bandwagon in droves.

Well, whatever the reason(s) may be that blacks still approve of Obama in the polls, I realized that God, for whatever reason, has granted Obama mercy (withholding what he deserves), and grace (giving him what he doesn't deserve).

But it may be more than that.

God's thoughts and plans are higher than my thoughts and desires. With all that our country is suffering from, our sin is so great in this nation that we can't ignore that God has demonstrated enormous mercy towards us. He has been withholding what we, sinners all, truly deserve. God has afforded us grace at this chaotic, uncertain, and scary time. He continues to hold us together - giving us a kind of grace that we don't deserve.

I thought long and hard about all of this. I know, in my heart and soul that trusting God is really all that we have in this world. Jesus Christ is the one and only constant that I can be assured to trust and to absolutely lean on - in good times, in bad times, and even in the horrible and ugly times.

The racial tensions and small incidences of outbreak around our country that are unfortunately happening today would pale in comparison to what would happen if (or when) Obama was indicted, tried, possibly convicted of corruption (or on the ineligibility issue) and removed from office. The outcry from the black communities around our entire country would cause another civil war!

Perhaps this is why God is holding back from allowing any of the current cases from succeeding. I don't know for sure - I can only guess, of course. But the concepts of mercy and grace are played out time and time again here on this earth. Sometimes justice is served, and other times it is not. Life is not always fair and we should not expect it to be. Jesus told us that "in this life you will have trouble. But take heart! For I have overcome the world."

That is what we, as Christian believers can always trust! The very words and promises of Jesus Christ!

Although we walk by faith and not by sight, the fact that God's permissive will allows us to be held by His patient Mercy, and affords us his long suffering Grace, gives us the confidence to go forth in our lives no matter what happens here on this earth.

We all suffer pain and suffering in this life, but one day we will be in a place where such terrible things will not exist! It will be a whole new way of life and existence that is hard for us to fathom right now. But God's Word spells it out quite clearly. Let all who have ears to hear - let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The book of Revelation quotes, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" seven times!"

Rev 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."'

Rev 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'

Rev 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."'

Rev 2:29 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

Rev 3:6 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

Rev 3:13 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

Rev 3:22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

In the Bible, the number seven is representative of perfection.

Who are you heeding?

Who has your ear?

Are you listening to what the Spirit says to you and the churches?

God's Word encourages us to wait for the return of Jesus Christ. We are to "call upon the Lord."

2Sa 22:4 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

2Sa 22:7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears.

Psa 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Psa 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

Psa 99:6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called upon His name; They called upon the LORD, and He answered them.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Scriptures:

Luk 4:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;


Luk 4:19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

The fruit of the Spirit teaches us:

Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.


Eph 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.


Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light


Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),


Eph 5:10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.



Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,


Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.


Gal 5:24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.


Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

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