Love

Understanding Faith

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UNDERSTANDING FAITH

If there was ever a word that Christians need to understand, it is the word “faith”. From Genesis 1 through Revelation 22, it is what God requires from His people. God requires people to have faith more today than when Jesus walked the earth.

I believe that some of the most important verses regarding faith are found in the following:

John 20:29 (NIV)  29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Faith is the key word in order to have a relationship with God. If you read the Bible carefully, you will see that God requires you to have faith. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)  6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Mark 11:22 (NIV) “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

God requires everyone who calls themselves a Christian to have faith in Him even when things are not going well or the way we think they should. If we do not understand, we cannot have true faith. If we were honest, most of us base our faith on what is seen instead of what is not seen. This is the normal concept of faith in our lives today. We limit ourselves by what we believe and have faith in. We are afraid of stepping out in faith because it is not natural. A lot of people have been taught that stepping out of the norm is impossible and scary, so they stay in their comfort zone. Many lose so many blessings because of fear to walk in faith. Some may lose their salvation.

Romans 10:17 (NIV)  Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

The truth of the gospel comes by faith in the Holy Spirit’s teaching and causing us to believe. It only stands to reason that if the Temple of the Holy Spirit is not in order, we will not experience His persuasion. By faith learn to listen and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. His leadership will not fail you.

2 Tim 1:12b-14 (NIV)   I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you, guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

We are nothing if we do not have faith in Jesus Christ. Every Christian should desire true faith and don’t waver when things don’t go as you want. I know it is not easy when we battle the desires of the flesh but through faith we can overcome. All you need to remember is that Jesus Christ is our Savior and God is our Heavenly Father. We need to have faith in them for they both love us very much, more than we love ourselves. They are always with you.

Fill your mind and soul with Bible verses regarding faith. Hebrews, Chapter 11 is a chapter on faith. Also, the bible is full of stories about men and women of faith. Read the stories of faith regarding Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Samson, David, Gideon, Mary, Elizabeth, Ruth, Sarah, and Naomi, just to mention a few. When you are feeling low, read Bible verses about faith. When your circumstances seem like there is no light at the end, keep the faith by claiming the many promises that the Bible gives to you. Yes, Jesus said I am coming back soon and I say, Come Lord Jesus.

Love to all.

IS THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE?

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IS THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE?

I have been thinking about the message the Christians Community has been sending to the lost regarding salvation. How are we attempting to reach those who we believe are not saved? For some time, have we been sending the wrong message regarding God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit? It is evident that something is not right regarding our redemption plan. Otherwise we would be in a worldwide revival. It appears that we are working a dead horse with spreading the Gospel. Is it time for a new message or going back to the messages that drew people to Jesus Christ?

One thing I notice is that the messages we hear today about religion is more about church membership, baptism, involvement, commitment, dedication and of course tithing or giving. Don’t misunderstand, all of those have their place in salvation if presented properly. The most important factor regarding salvation must focus on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His death, burial and resurrection and the precious blood that saved us sinners. I have noticed an increasing trend toward messages that make people feel good. There is also the guilt trip message. Also, I notice that churches are neglecting Bible study and old fashion prayer meetings and replacing them with a social atmosphere. I believe that anyone who leads a flock, whether it is one or a thousand, may they be reminded of what it says in Jeremiah, Chapter 23.

People are being introduced to excitement and hype. Success is counted by numbers. I believe that the natural man and even the evangelicals do not completely understand what a personal (distinctive to a certain person), intrapersonal (inside or within), and interpersonal relationship (relationship between persons) with Jesus Christ is all about. I believe that if we did, there would be more people seeking Jesus. If a person does not understand the relationship connection, how can they explain it to others correctly? How can we begin to understand the function of the Lordship of the Living Lord Jesus? Not just accepting an opinion that He is Lord, God, and Deity, but as the acceptance of the fact that my life is no longer mine to determine, but is entirely at His disposal and determination. In Luke 6:46, Jesus rebukes those who addressing Him as Lord. He said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Another contributing factor to the decline is the one on one contact with the lost. One of the many reasons people shy away from personal contact is fear. Does this have something to do with the relationship a person has with Jesus? I notice that many individuals communicate through the use of banners. Again, don’t get me wrong, banners for the most part encourage and support the saved and we all need encouragement. I ask you, are they reaching the lost and winning souls for Jesus Christ? Beware of Satan’s deceitful ways when approaching lost souls. Modern technology cannot replace the old fashion personal contact. Believe it or not, people love personal contact.

Could our churches be teaching that a person can be a Christian and not be a disciple? Is man changing God’s plan? My understanding is that when you follow Jesus Christ, you become a disciple. I believe that if you use the name Christian, you are a follower of Jesus. Don’t use the name in vain.

I ask my true brothers and sisters in Christ, are we allowing converts to become disillusioned and confused by what we are presenting as salvation? Are we presenting half-truths and not the whole truth as presented in the Bible? They then fade away and turn back to the way of the world or seek out a feel good church. I can assure you that a feel good sermon is only temporary. True blessings from God only come when a person believes wholeheartedly from his or her heart on Jesus Christ and follows the instruction of the Bible as God teaches. Are we failing to teach the Word of God and its truth?

Is your salvation based on a carnal nature and carnal wisdom? When you have to make important and even non-important decisions, do you follow God’s instruction or your own carnal way? Are you afraid that you cannot live as God wants you to because of guilt (which comes from the devil) of past sins? Let go and let Jesus save you and be set free. Give all to Him and receive the peace and understanding of a loving God and Savior. Let the Master of Life take over and be blessed.

No Greater Love

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No Greater Love

John 15:13 (KJV) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

What does it mean to lay down your life for others? Jesus defined love in terms of sacrificial actions rather than words or emotions.  As I have stated in previous blogs there are four different types of love. They are as follows:

EROS includes passion or infatuation as well as sexual or romantic love.

STORGE refers to the natural affection between a parent and child.

PHILEO refers to the intimacy that good friends share.

AGAPE is sacrificial love–a commitment that motivates us to deny ourselves on behalf of another. This is the type of love the Lord had in mind when He commanded His followers to love one another.

You can see that AGAPE love is a sacrificial love. This is the true love that flows from God and it is a command for those of us who say we are born again believers of Jesus Christ.

Our physical life is one of the most valuable asset we possess. There is only one greater and that is our spiritual life in Jesus Christ. There is not a greater expression of love than when a person is willing to lay down their life for another person or their country. It enhances the love of Jesus Christ. Jesus died for His enemies and those who hate Him and those who reject Him as the One who came and died for us sinners. What Jesus did for us shows the extent of His love that He has for us. There is no greater love than when He laid down His life for us.

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to possibly lay down your life for someone else? Have you ever thought about what you would do if the situation ever presented itself? I have and I had to make that choice in January, 1968. That was a transforming experience for me since I am still alive and I praise God that He granted me additional time here on earth. How about the many who have died for our freedom? How sad it is when people demonstrate and destroy because they say it is their right. How many have died so others may have that right? I often ask myself, would these demonstrators be willing to die for others? I know what I thought about before and after my experience of how close death was at my door and it was for a total stranger. I have no regrets and I praise and thank God for the privilege of serving Him.

As we enter into this Christmas Season, God may not ask you to lay down your life, but He may be asking you to share with someone you may know or don’t know, the Good News of Jesus Christ. Sacrifice a little by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. You will be blessed. Jesus sacrificed His position in Heaven to come to earth as a gift for us. Give Him thanks by sharing with others. May the Lord bless you this Christmas?

WILLIAMS MAIL

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I would like to share an email I received. I believe it would be an opportunity for the Christian Community to witness and show a young boy our love by sending him mail. May the Lord bless those who respond in His name. Thank you for your consideration.

Williams Mail

I have never done, or asked anything like this before, but I felt the need to. That need that comes from being a mom and wanting to do everything in your power to make your child happy. It seems like such a small thing but it is the few things that drive a mothers soul. The need to protect and the need to bring joy to your kids faces.

My son, William is 12 years old. He is an amazing kid. He rarely asks for much. He is full of love, joy and happiness. William is smart, funny and awesome. William also has Autism (severe) and is also non verbal. (he can not talk). During Christmas time (his absolute favorite time of the year) he always asks me for the things he wants, and they are always the same. He wants Mr.Sketch Markers, Copy Paper, Lays Regular Chips, and whatever Blu Ray is on his mind for his collection. (His “thing” is movies). He is the easiest and hardest to shop for. I am always looking for new things to add to the list but he usually is not interested and just wants what he wants.

This is where my request comes in. This year he asked for something new! I almost fell over when he added it to the box (his Christmas wish list box) and the new item is……….. MAIL! Mail. Mail. He LOVES getting mail. Half of our family lives in Northern Canada and the other half lives in Southern USA so he gets mail from family a couple times a year. I always knew he loved getting his mail but when he asked for it, I cried. I actually sat here and cried. Both happy and sad tears. Happy because he was expressing his wants and sad because of how I was going to figure out how to get him what he wants. He is such an amazing kid and he rarely wants for anything, I really want to make something special for him.

Let me tell you why I was sad. William has never had people come to his birthdays or has he been invited to any. No one asks William to come over for playdates or sleep overs. There are a small handful of kids in his class with needs of their own so I understand why. It is not anyone’s fault, it just is what it is. My family lives 1000 miles in one direction and my kids other family (fathers side) lives 1000 miles in the other so there is no family here for us. My teenage daughter is always out, socializing, hanging with friends and sometimes it just breaks my heart. I wish William had that too, but life has other plans for this amazing kid.

Many people assume since he can not talk that he does not understand. Well, let me tell you, this kid understands. He understands a lot. He understands too much. He just can not communicate the way we do, but he is sharp as a tack. He feels love and affection and I think he finds mail from others as affection. He carries around the last box that was sent to him. He covets the post cards. He wants me to read mail to him (even though he is an excellent reader) he wants to send mail. He LOVES mail and asks me for it now (the past couple weeks) multiple times a day. He writes MAIL on his drawings, he brings me the key to check the mail. I think he truly appreciate mail.

Now to my request. I have been racking my brains for a couple weeks. I want to make this year special for this most special boy. He has nothing but love in him and I want him to feel the love from others. If you want to help a kind soul this year, I am asking for strangers to send him mail. I want him to know the world loves and values him in a way that he understands and feels. I have been buying stamps and have been “creating” mail for Christmas. I have enlisted my small family (there is only a handful) to send mail to him for Christmas. I was hoping someone out there would want to sit down and send mail to William. He deserves to feel the love from the world like the rest of us do because he makes this world a better place. He deserves all the mail in the world according to me , but I am his mommy so I am bias.

I know, it may seem strange to ask strangers for mail but this is the only way I can think of to fulfill my sons Christmas wish. I am starting a page, and if people write letters to him on it, I will print the letters off and turn them into mail. If you feel inclined to send this amazing kid a piece of mail, I will save it until Christmas morning and when he wakes up, he will wake up to his beloved mail.

He loves his mail so much that his weekly treat is to visit the Post Office so he can get a Mail Box (a priority mail box) and when we get home he wants me to put Mail in it (usually just one of his BluRays) and he gets so happy to open it. He also carries around this Christmas USPS flier thingy they sent out a while ago with their Christmas stamps.

Please take the time to consider my request. It would mean the world to a very special young boy whose only real wish this year is to open MAIL It would mean the world to this Momma , William and his big sister Victoria too, we just want to make it a very special Christmas for a very special boy

https://www.facebook.com/pag…/Williams-Mail/1575623412666921

If you would like to learn more about what to write or what William likes to talk about please read this link. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1576474325915163&id=1575623412666921

Twitter @mail4william

‪#‎mail4william

Williams Mail

PMB# 175

816 Peace Portal Dr.

Blaine, Washington 98230

USA

Please share

HOLIDAY CHANGES

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HOLIDAY CHANGES

As we enter into the Holiday Seasons, there seems to be a change taking place that saddens me. What I was raised with and have enjoyed for many years were the greetings of HAPPY THANKSGIVING and MERRY CHRISTMAS. Now it appears that these greetings are changing to Happy Harvest or Happy Holiday. I ask, why? I believe that a great deal of the change has to do with the Christian connection that is represented in these two holidays. It seems in our present age, any reference to a Christian ideology is taboo among our society. What is even sadder is that the voices of our Christian churches are not speaking up or taking opposition to these changes. Again, I ask, why? There seems to be a lull of apathy for not standing up for what is right in our country today. Has Satan gotten us so full of fear that we are afraid to challenge those who are taking away our rights as citizens of this great country? I ask, what happened to God’s promise in Romans 8:31(NKJV) 31 what then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

As we enter into the last holidays of 2014 I pray that you remember all the blessings you have been given by a great and loving God. I realize that there are those who are hurting, depressed and down and out. If God has blessed you, give to others as you are capable of giving even if it is just telling someone that you love them. Then give thanks and praise to God as stated in Psalms 100:4, (NIV) Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

As we enter into the Christmas season, remember to keep Christ in Christmas. After all, that is what Christmas is all about. Don’t “X” Him out! The Christmas story can be found in the Gospel of Matthew 1: beginning with vs. 18 and in the Gospel of Luke 2: beginning in vs.1. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to be with us and eventually give Himself as sacrifice. What a gift! Even if you think you have nothing, you have the most wonderful gift that anyone could ask for. This gift keeps giving and giving from generation to generation and what is so wonderful, all you have to do is receive it. It is free.

I pray that you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas. Love to all.

THE BIBLE’S FORMULA FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE.

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THE BIBLE’S FORMULA FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE.

I don’t have all the answers regarding this subject. I will say that I have some and I want to share them so that they may help others who are struggling. My wife and I have been married 56 years and 4 months. There have been many bumps in our journey together. Through the grace of God, we have overcome them and are continuing to learn more as we go on down our pathway of life. Will it be smooth sailing? Probably not. One of the main things we have learned is that Satan hates God’s creation of families and does all he can to destroy them. As I point out some verses from God’s Word, you must work hard to put them in place. God gave us the instructions just as you get instructions for putting things together. Just as you are expected to read and follow the instructions for your finished product, you are expected to follow God’s instruction for a successful marriage. God has put into place all that you are to follow, it is now up to you. Don’t give up!

Here are few suggestions in order to enjoy a happy life together. Before I refer you to Scripture, I want to say that when you marry the love of your life, there is a life changing factor that must come into play. That is, everything is no longer about me. Everything is now about my other half. You must change your way of thinking and concentrate on the other half. Is this not what Jesus has done for His bride to be? He is our example. We must believe in and trust the one we love.

The responsibility for a successful marriage lies more on the husband than the wife.

Genesis 2:24 (NIV)

24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Proverbs 5:18 (NKJV)

18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 (NIV)

9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.

Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

I must comment on these verses as the first part of verse 25 says something that I believe men need to understand about the way God created us. It says that men are to love their wives. Nowhere does it say that woman is to love their husband. Men need to understand that if he loves his wife in a Godly fashion, the wife will automatically respond to that love. In other words, since Jesus loves you, you respond to His love. This is a factor that I believe is missing in some marriages. The next reference is also important.

1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)

7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

1 Corinthians 7:5 (NIV)

5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

I bring this to your attention since this seems to be one of the major problems in marriages. This is in regards to your sexual relations.

Now I know that many people will refer to Romans 7:2, Ephesians 5:22and 1 Peter 3:1 in order to contradict what I have said. If you study these Scriptures you will see that submission does not mean that you are to rule their lives. Also, I want to point out that we do not live under the old law but under the grace of God in case you refer to the Old Testament.  Put in perspective what Jesus is saying to His Bride of which the saved belong. Does He rule your life if you don’t want Him to? God did not create woman for man to rule over them. He created them equal.

Will there still be problems? Yes, that is life due to Satan and his destructive ways since the Garden of Eden. Resist the Devil in the name of Jesus and by the power of His blood and he will flee from you. You only have this one physical life here on earth. Make it a wonderful life as that is what Jesus wants.