HOWDY MY NAME IS ABRAHAM 3

Picking up where I left off, both me and Sarah had our name changed by GOD.
I thought that was just fine. GOD had begun to speak to me more often. HE said that Ishmael would be great but he was not to be the one with whom the covenant would be established with.

This left me confused although I didn’t tell GOD that. HE kept saying all this land would belong to me and my seed and the only seed I had was Ishmael.

Then one day GOD said; Genesis 15:5 Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, "Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That's how many descendants you will have!" and Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.

At that moment everything changed from then on I knew that HE would keep HIS word to me.

Now if I told you my faith never wavered in the years that followed, that wouldn’t be exactly true because of the years that I waited for my heir until I was almost one hundred years old, and then GOD confirmed HIS promise to me and Sarah bore me a son.

All these years we had gone through the motions but no heir was conceived, but I hung on to GODS promise to me. I continued to hope - - when there was no hope and that kept my faith alive.

I wish I could say I wasn’t tested anymore but that wouldn’t be true. I don’t want to go into the details but it was concerning Isaac, and was the most difficult test of all. Just when I thought I had proved myself to be faithful then I faced a larger issue. But from beginning to end, GOD was faithful and brought me through.

Sarah spoiled Isaac, but who can blame her. She went through the period of time when she was thought to be barren for life, and was looked upon as being inferior. She couldn’t produce what Abraham wanted most and that was a son to continue his heritage. Things completely changed when Isaac was born and her ingloriousness and shame were no more.

Time had passed, my Sarah had died, I arranged for a wife for Isaac and oh by the way I revived and took another wife by whom I had several more children. Though I have joined my fathers in death I have many sons. Sons who by faith can say I am a son of Abraham.

HOWDY MY NAME IS ABRAM 2

Let me see I was telling you about me and Sarai.

We had followed my father up north to Haran where he died.

I was still in my prime about 75 years old when GOD had told me to go south to Canaan’s land. There was a famine there and so I kept moving south until we came to Egypt’s border. The further we went the more fear I had especially for my life.

When I looked at Sarai she still had all her beauty and I reasoned that someone would kill me and take her. My fear droved me to ask her to say that she was my sister and not to say she was my wife. While I didn’t feel good about that, after all - - I was scared.

Well just as I figured, as soon as the Egyptians saw her, they took her and put her in Pharaoh’s harem. I knew what that meant, for sooner or later he would have sex with her. This made me uncomfortable to say the least but I saw no viable alternative.

Well it was also as I figured Pharaoh gave me a little of everything and made me richer. Once again GOD moved upon the scene for he had greater plans for me that involved Sarai.

All of the sudden bad things began to happen to Pharaoh. When things got very bad GOD came to Abimelech the Pharaoh and told him Abraham had deceived him for Sarai was in fact Abraham’s wife. Abimelech asked God how do I get out of this mess and God told him to give Abraham his wife back along with some sheep and servants and stuff and then tell them to git out. The Pharaoh did that and then God removed all the curses from him and his household.

Something I learned from all that was you can lie while telling the truth if you leave out some of the facts, and that bad things can happen as a result of doing that. Well it was on the road again heading north with all my riches and Lot also had gotten rich too. We were so blessed that we had to part and go our separate ways.

Things were never dull because we were very busy and GOD had come back on the scene and said I would have a son which was good news to me. He also promised to make me a great nation and give me all the land I walked upon.

God made many more promises and I told HIM that I believed what HE was saying and my faith in what He said will be put to my account as righteousness. I was finding that time is the enemy of faith for the longer you wait for the promise to be fulfilled the more your faith is tested.

Sarai said you know we have been trying but so far nothing has changed and I’m still am not with child. She said take Hagar and she can be my surrogate and she can have my child. I said OK and I did and we did and shortly here was Ishmael. I tried to get GOD to accept Ishmael as the promised heir of mine but He said no. Sometime after this GOD spoke to me again and said HE was changing Sarai’s name to Sarah and she would have a son.

Moral ; most of us have “feet of clay” as did Abraham and make mistakes while working things through. "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak," but the flesh can be controlled and the spirit strengthened if we desire

I gotta go for now but will be back.

EVERY THING IS …..

In the movie” Popeye” there is the song “Every thing is food.”

The song starts;

Everything is food, food, food
Everything is food to go
Everything is food for thought
Everything you knead is dough
It is food, Everything is food

I had a Bible teacher who said, "We give our bodies three meals a day and for our spirit a cold snack on Sunday” and then he added, “is it any wonder that the voice of our bodies is much stronger than the voice of our spirits?”

Philippians 3:18-19
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Proverbs 23:20
Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat.

The truth of these verses stands out when I look in the mirror. While I don’t struggle with the drunkard’s part, the eater of meat gets me. What makes it worse is both issues are lumped together in one verse with equal value.

Song goes on;
Everything is upside down now
Everything is sunny side up
It's ubiquitous
Enigmatic and
They can't trick us
With no hot dogmatic

When we look deeper we find it is appetite that is the villain for we will strain to be filled with what the appetite demands.

Genesis 25:30-34
And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

It would take a large book to explain what can be learned from this passage. You start with; hunger, then compromise, then satiation and lastly despising that which was lost. Later deception by his brother caused him to also lose the blessing due to him also.

Hebrews 12:17
For you know that afterward, when he (Esau) desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. Don’t you just hate it when there is no way to erase the consequences of an error committed?

Matthew. 5:6 How blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because it is they who will be satisfied! Do you suppose they will be filled with what they are hungry for?

Romans 13:14
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Looks like it is a two step proposition; step 1 put on the Lord Jesus Christ, step 2 make no provision for the flesh.

There was a dance called the two step and the guys that could only do one step were left standing on the dance floor while the girl moved on and so it is there is no one stepping in Christ.

Moral; it simply comes down to appetite; you will do whatever it take to satisfy what you are hungering for.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz884EUAqi4

HOWDY MY NAME IS ABRAM

This is actually about me and Sarai. There is much written about me but I want to focus more on my personal side of it.

We lived in Ur; some claim that this is where the Garden of Eden used to be. You couldn’t prove it by me for the flood had wiped out all traces of it. My family is a little confusing so I’ll try to explain it to you.

Terah had three boys and one girl, actually he had some more but we don’t talk about them. My brother Haran had a boy named Lot and a girl named Milcah and he died in Ur at a young age. My brother Nahor married up with Haran’s daughter and had a boy named Bethuel who had a son named Laban and a daughter named Rebekah and then Laban had two girls; Leah who was a little homely and Rachel who was comely.

Well getting back to the important part, I married my half sister named Sarai. Terah first married Yona, by whom he had Abraham; afterwards he married Tehevita, by whom he had Sarah.” Thus she was my half sister being the daughter of my father but not my mother.

Sister or not she was hot and I had my eye on her from the time she was little and before someone else got her I closed the deal. I was excited about having a son but Sarai couldn’t get pregnant, no matter how hard we tried, it just didn’t work. We tried and tried but there was no issue of life coming forth.

Some of the men began to talk about me behind my back saying that it was my fault and maybe I needed some help.

This was embarrassing and was causing me to lose some self-esteem. Later it got so bad that Sarai told me to take her maid Hagar and spend some time with her. Well, presto change-o right off she was with child and that just caused another problem called jealousy. But I’m getting ahead of my story.

My dad had wanted to move up north so we packed up our goods and persons and headed for the city of Haran. Things worked out pretty good there and we accumulated quite a bit of wealth.

As it happens my father died having lived a long time and that left me with all the responsibility for the family. Then to complicate matters GOD had previously spoke to me and said to leave my country and the family clan.

I waited until Terah died before I headed south.

We were very comfortable in Haran but I determined to obey what GOD had told me. When all you have is what GOD has spoken to you it is hard to leave and go to a place where you haven’t been before. About that time my faith was being tested severely GOD spoke to me again and I welcomed that fresh word for the first word was slipping away.

We rambled from place to place without really finding the right spot until the famine struck. There was no rain, no crops. And I decided it was time to go further south, down to a country called Egypt.

Seems I have some chores to do so I will pick up on this later.

Promises From the Bible

THE BIBLE AUTHORS SAID
(Remember, 2Tim 3:16 tells us, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.")

Ps 5:12, "For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”

Ps 9:9, "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."

Ps 22:24, "For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard."

Ps 25:8, "Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way."

Ps 27:14, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Ps 29:11, "The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace."

Ps 34:7, "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

Ps 34:9, "O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him."

Ps 34:10, "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing."

Ps 34:17, "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

Ps 34:18, "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."

Ps 34:19, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

Ps 37:4-5, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

Ps 37:39-40, "But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him."

Ps 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Ps 46:11, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."

Ps 62:12, "Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work."

Ps 63:8, "My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me."

Ps 68:5, "A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation."

Ps 72:6-7, "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth."

Is 40:29, "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."

Is 40:31, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

John 3:36, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Phil 4:7, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

GOD SAID:
Ps 32:8, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

Ps 50:15, "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

Is 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Is 41:13, "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Jer 29:13, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Jer 33:3, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Ez 34:15, "I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD."

Ez 34:16, "I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment."

Ez 34:26, "And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing."

Hos 14:4, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him."

JESUS SAID
Matthew 6:31-33, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Matthew 11:28-29, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

Matthew 17:20, "... If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Matthew 21:21-22, "... Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

Mark 9:23, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

Mark 11:23-26, "...whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Luke 6:38, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

Luke 11:9-10, "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

John 5:24, "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

John 6:37, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

John 14:12-14, "... He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

John 14:18, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

John 15:7, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

John 16:13, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

John 16:15, "All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you."

John 16:23, "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."

Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-lqYLoBZqI

HOWDY MY NAME IS SETH

There is so much to tell I hardly know where to start. Noah was my father and I had two brothers, Ham and Japheth.

Dad was pretty straight laced and made us toe the line. While other boys we knew were wild and reckless we obeyed dad. One day dad told us boys that we were going to build an ark. He described how it would be built and that one day a flood would come.

I personally thought that it was a dumb idea but nobody argued with dad. Furthermore I thought we could rent apartments in case the flood never showed up. Building the ark was a tremendous task, and I almost flipped when dad told us to gather up all them animals, and food enough to feed them.

To be frank about it I was getting a little pushed out because the ark was finished, and was ready for the rain, and we just sat there with everybody making fun of us.  I got into it with some of the nastiest ones and wasn’t much fun at home with my wife.

Then suddenly it happened.  Dad said, “Load up boys the time has come.” We broke the records for moving people and animals because all the sudden time was of the essence. When we were all set, GOD shut the door and the torrents of water fell.

Simply put being shut with all them animals wasn’t the most pleasant time in my life, and I was glad when the voyage was finally over. Them animals emptied the ark in record time and we got on with the task of being fruitful and multiplying; this was mostly the women’s job although they didn’t get much credit for it.

At first it started slow but after a few years there was so many people that each tribe went in separate ways and spread across the earth. I did my share of replenishing and even though I had many girls I only counted the boys as worth mentioning.

We were farming, raising stock and enjoying life. Noah, dad that is liked to raise grapes and make wine. One time he got drunk and took his clothes off. When Ham accidentally saw him buck naked dad got real mad and said some bad things to Ham.

Two years after the flood I had my first son and from there it was like a flood of kids inundating the earth. Because I lived so long, I outlived many of young ones, Even years later Abraham died before I did. Seems like those born after the flood were not made out of the same stuff.
One thing that survived the flood was the ability and desire to sin, much to my sorrow. If in the future, times return to what they were in “The days of Noah,” GOD will once again have to deal with the problem severely.

In later years I was called Melchizedek and was a priest unto GOD.

HOWDY MY NAME IS NOAH

My pappy had the idea if he called me by the name Noah then the world would get better but it didn’t work out that way, in fact things only just got worse!

Genesis 5:28-29 And Lamech was a hundred and eighty-two years old when he had a son: And he gave him the name of Noah, saying, Truly, he will give us rest from our trouble and the hard work of our hands, because of the earth which was cursed by God.

As time went by, the folks (Cain’s kids) completely forgot about GOD but the devil was alive and active on the East side of Eden. Meanwhile in the West the sons of GOD (Seth’s kids) were beginning to neglect the altar and the worship time. The result of this was the East and the West finally met and there was intermarriage between the sons of GOD and the daughters of the devil.

While they had religion it was destitute of any adequate sense of sin, or need of atonement this resulted in the whole race being defiled.

Meanwhile I stayed my course and walked uprightly before the LORD.

Genesis 6:5-8 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

The one thing I discovered was, though all around me, evil prevailed I could still walk uprightly before the LORD. His ways, could be my ways. His thoughts could be my thoughts and I could be in the world but not of the world.

Now I knew this couldn’t go on much longer for GOD was fed up with the way people were conducting themselves, but I lived on a “Need to know” basis until one day when GOD spoke to me and said;

Genesis 6:13-14 "The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. 14 "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood………

HE continued giving me instructions until I knew the whole of what I must do in obedience to his words. It took me many years to complete my task and every day was a test of my faith in what GOD had said.

I felt bad for the people who were shut out; the only consolation for them was “They did it their way.” The flood came and went, dry land appeared and it was a new world, washed and dried. I wondered if man had learned his lesson or would they revert to doing the same thing again.

The moral is: If everybody is doing it, it is probably wrong!

HOWDY MY NAME IS CAIN

I was the first Cain that was ever raised.

I became a farmer because there weren't many jobs around. I had a brother named Abel; he raised some goats and sheep. Ma didn't wean him until he were half grown, but I was weaned right off as soon as I got some teeth.

For some reason he was the favorite and that didn't set too good with me cause I was the oldest.

Ma and Pa used to tell me how good it was before they were evicted from the garden, but the more I thought about it, the worse I felt. No matter how much I cut them thorns down they kept coming back and the sweat kept running down into my eyes while Abel sat under the trees where it was cool and just watched the flocks.

We had an altar where we talked to GOD. I remember once when we made an offering to Him. Abel killed one of his sheep and gave it up on the altar, this pleased GOD to no end. I picked out the best of my crop and presented it upon the altar but GOD was offended by my offering. When He saw I was not happy He told me to straighten up and every thing would be alright.

Abel acted like he was the cock-of-the-walk after that, and one day I up and whacked him.

I actually hit him too hard and he perished.  I thought he will probably be missed so I covered him with dirt and acted like I didn't know where he was.

About this time GOD asked me, “Where is Abel?” I said, “It beats me, I haven't got a clue.”

Then HE said something I never forgot “The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.” "Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.”

Then I said to the LORD, "My punishment is too great to bear!

Then God put a brand on me so that nobody would kill me.

After I had sinned I didn't go to the altar anymore for it reminded me of what I had done.

I cut out because I didn't want GOD to curse me anymore, for each time HE saw me HE said something ugly to me.

I went to Nod, where I found a wife and started to have some kids. Them were the meanest kids on the block and I couldn’t do a thing with them. I thought back to the time when I was at home with Ma and Pa and Abel and when things were good, but now this world is gone downhill and it looks like the only to make it better is to start over.

The moral of this story is; “You may be sure that your sin will find you out!”

HOWDY MY NAME IS ADAM

Back in the days when one name was enough I was just called Adam.

I lived in a nice neighborhood where we got along just fine. There was no crime or anything like that. My wife was named Eve but I called her Eveie.

One day Eveie was out walking when this fine looking snake called her over, and said try some of this fruit whereupon she said we ain’t suppose to eat that one. The snake said, “Take another look, this is good stuff, and it is good for the mind.” Well she called me over and we both tried, it and he was right it was pretty good.

Well the landlord had told us not to eat that particular fruit, and the next thing I knew he evicted us, and locked the door so we couldn’t get back in. Well Eveie said; boy he sure got an attitude in a hurry.

Here we were out in the desert where there was nothing but weeds and we had to struggle just to get something to eat, and to top it off Eveie got pregnant and started to have some kids to feed.

I lost count how many kids we had, but we had so many grandkids they had to leave and they opened a new area, and called it Nod. Nod was to the east of Eden.

I lived 930 years and by this time I had so many kids and grand kids I didn’t know them all. You talk about a fruitful vine. Trying to feed all these children just wore me out and I returned to the dust from which I came.

Gen.1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”   29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.”  And it was so.

The moral of the story is; the price of disobedience to GOD’S word is more that one can pay.

CONTRASTS TO CONSIDER

We speak of the voice of the spirit, voice of the soul and the voice of the body. I suspect the voice of the body is the loudest. I'm hungry, I'm hurt, I'm tired easily gets attention.

1Thesselonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The term “through and through,” means completely, the whole man. You can't settle for the spirit to be reborn and the soul and body be in opposition. They must be purified from the corrupting influences of the world.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Paul recognized that if he was going to do GOD’S will he would have to control both his body and soul in order for his spirit to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 9:27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Romans 12:1-2 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

These scriptures define just what man is; a three part being.

At death the body is separated from the spirit and soul, but they remain so close they have been declared to be one by some denominations.
Yet the Word of God recognizes the difference between them and defines them as two entities. A further distinguishing factor is the spirit can be saved at once but the soul’s salvation is a process.

James 1:21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

This I suppose explains why we do some of the things that are displeasing to GOD; our souls still need some work.

This brings me to the subject matter which is two contrasts within the soul or the mind and emotions. How we feel about our relationship with God and how we think about it are controlling factors in the way we live and conduct ourselves.

The word of GOD don’t mean squat if it isn't accepted as a rule of life.

When you got saved you became a unity, you and the Spirit of GOD both dwell in your body, and as such you need to see yourself as "we and us" rather than "I and me" which excludes the Holy Spirit.

In doing so you change your entire Christian viewpoint much like marriage does. If a man or wife doesn’t consider the other in everything that pertains to the marriage then it is an “I and me” situation which is selfish and has consequences.

But if they always consider the other before acting then it is a “we and us” way of life where harmony prevails.

Through his death Christ has shared his life with us and our declaring ourselves (by our conduct) to be dead unto sin but alive unto GOD shares our life with HIM.
(This is from a time of musing (talking to myself) that I have written down R.M.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zut3rCzk6bw&feature=related

TEACH ME TO PRAY - FINAL

Prayer and introspection; how do these things work together?

1 Corinthians 11:28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

These words speak of self examination prior to partaking of the Lords supper, and while it is good to keep short accounts it is better to walk as to not need a quick fix before eating and drinking.

In the same way when going to pray; Psalms 68:17-19 I cried to him with my mouth and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.

Well guess what, the psalmist had it right. If I want to have my prayers heard I must not buddy up to sin.

Our conduct is the controlling force in faith; you can’t do the devil’s deed and have the GOD kind of faith necessary for receiving from GOD.

Do I want some answers? Look in the word!

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win

Romans 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Ephesians 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.

Sin does two things; first it will neutralize your prayer power and unanswered prayer will de-faith you and cause you to lose your joy for a defeated Christian is an unhappy one.

So ends my personal checkup concerning prayer and praying. I hope you were doing well and didn’t need any prompting from me.

TEACH ME TO PRAY 5

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden they didn’t really understand the consequences of their act. They didn’t know that both physical and spiritual death would fasten upon them.

Doing things without full consciousness of how it will reflect on you and on your relationship with GOD might activate both GOD’S grace and mercy on your behalf but the core issue must be dealt with.

Hebrews 10:21 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

This scripture is a wakeup call to all who are careless in their daily walk. While directed toward those who become apostate the words that stand out are that that say; and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace.

Ephesians 4:29-30 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, God has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Focus your attention upon the word “Holy” in the title Holy Spirit what does this mean to you? 1 Peter 1:16 For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy."

It sounds like there is a problem if we live in a way that causes grief to the Spirit of GOD.

What happens when you act in a way that is not acceptable in GOD’S sight?

There is discord between you and the Holy Spirit and guess who has to change to bring back harmony within you. Perhaps we should set up a hypothetical case; you are messing up and you need to pray. But you need help from the Spirit and there is discord between the two of you. Now you try to figure out to get GOD to act upon your behalf but don’t want to straighten up.

Well according to James you are out of luck, for you are double minded and you can’t expect to receive anything from the Lord.

If you want to know how to pray, then plan on learning how to live.

Prayer is not an option it is mandated. It is your greatest tool and weapon. It will buoy you up when the sea is rough.

IT WOULD BE WELL TO PREPARE IN ADVANCE FOR WHATEVER WILL COME YOUR WAY.

TEACH ME TO PRAY 4

To be successful in prayer you first need to know the rules that govern prayer.

We could say, first the concept of prayer and then the precept (A precept is a commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action). Follow the rules and then you will have good success.

Mark 11:24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours.

There is more doubting exercised when praying than at any other time. Part of this is because we pray the wrong way for the wrong thing and two wrongs don’t make a right.

Then of course it follows that we then question GOD, and in the extreme we question His existence and confuse ourselves.

Let me refer back to my former lesson where I emphasized the indwelling Holy Spirit and try to change a concept and then make it a ruling precept in your life.

The shortest word and the most used word in our language is the word “I.” Our thinking is based upon I and me, but the truth for the Christian it is WE and US. The indwelling Spirit is involved in every action we take; sometimes He is an unwilling participant in what you do yet He is involved.

Jesus declared Him to be a helper John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.

When you pray allow the Spirit of GOD to be actively involved in the process;

Romans 8:26 At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we don't know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead it is said that he groaned in the spirit. To me this means He felt the need the help from the Holy Spirit to accomplish the resurrection of Lazarus.

If the prayer you make is not a product of your spirit and just a mental exercise then it is no more than words being uttered, and will accomplish nothing. When the Holy Spirit helps you pray it becomes a prayer of expectancy. Expectant prayer is believing prayer.

2 Corinthians 4:13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."

With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, believing precedes, speaking. Oft times we pray and then try to believe when we should get reinforced by the Word and the Spirit, and then make our petition known to GOD.

To be Continued.

TEACH ME TO PRAY 3

1 JOHN 1:6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.

Rightly or wrongly I have emphasized that the Holy Spirit resides within the believer.

John 14:17 He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. But you recognize him, because he lives with you and will be in you.

Remember in Genesis 1:6 the scripture says; And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Prior to the earth being exposed the omnipresent Holy Spirit moved over all of the waters. He in the same fashion today moves over the whole of humanity convicting all men of sin. Similarly he is residing in all who believe in Jesus.

For a minute you need to acknowledge the fact that the Holy Spirit resides in you as the scripture indicates.

You might say I thought this was about prayer and it is, as you will eventually see.

Lets look at this another way. The Spirit of GOD is in you when you decide that you are going to sin. How does the Holy Spirit view this and feel about it. There He is, in you, while you do your dirty deed.

The scripture we started with says in effect; “Walk in darkness (sin) and you are lying both to yourself and to GOD. You can forget about fellowship, joy in the Holy Ghost. Many people today believe they can do whatever they want and live in a sinful way and still have favor with GOD.

It seems a little strange to pray; “Lord bless my unrighteous lifestyle and my affairs, praise your name.”

Suppose you decide to tell some lies and the Spirit is in you wondering what is wrong with this person? Or maybe you decide to steal something and He is there in you while you do it.

How about moving in and living with someone in a unholy relationship, I question whether The Holy Spirit approves of this conduct.

You see that if you have deceived yourself into believing that you can have true fellowship with GOD and at the same time have an unholy lifestyle…… go figure.

Now let us pray! We enter the land of doubt when we sin. It is a neutering process. No life springs forth even though we go through the process and think we have met the requirement for life to flow. Try this; “If you doubt you do without!”

James 1:6-8 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

A person who has doubts shouldn't expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Paul addressing the Galatians said something like “Who has bewitched you?”

GOD knows anyone can make a mistake and He has made provision for that, but when you enter sinful practice and allow it to become a lifestyle you are in serious trouble.

Ask yourself who has bewitched me that I do not obey the truth.

This Prayer series will be continued.

TEACH US TO PRAY 2

Picture this if you can, you have finally found the Messiah and have been with him, seeing his miracles, hearing his words and you feel totally powerless. Your mind says “I want some of what he has got.”

After watching him pray, you rather awkwardly come up to him and say “Teach us to pray.” Now what you want is not just to say words, but to be able to get answers to your hearts desire.

A passage from a sermon by Pastor Wade;

But I also know first hand that sometimes prayer itself can be overwhelming as we worry about what we're saying, when we're saying it, where we're saying it, and how we're saying it. I confess there have been times when I've wondered if my prayer has fallen on deaf ears, or if there was perhaps a better way to express my thoughts so I would get the results I wanted, or at least the affirmation the prayer was heard. I've even fallen asleep while I was praying. And there have been times I've been so frustrated I've cried out "O Lord please teach me to pray!"

This is the experience of all Christians. They know they have a connection to GOD but somehow when it comes to petition all goes quiet and the wait that follows is unending.  We want showers of blessing but have to settle for a few mercy drops. There must be a clue somewhere as to how to pray more effectively.

In John 14 Jesus said some things that we should reflect on a little more. He said he was cutting out, but the Father would send one to take his place.

John 14:17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

In the last post I emphasized the indwelling Holy Spirit within each and every Christian. Just as the apostles who walked with Jesus realized that they were in the presence of GOD the Son and didn’t act accordingly, it is easy for the Christian to know they have GOD the Holy Spirit within them and for all practical purposes ignore that fact.

Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.

The same indwelling Holy Spirit and anointing and power, is what is in you. It is He that answers your prayer at the Fathers direction, when you pray you look for the answer to come from within not from some far off distance place. It is the Spirit of GOD that brings it to pass.

Perhaps you can see more clearly the reason for not grieving the Holy Spirit as stated in Eph. 4;30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

WE WILL CONTINUE THIS SERIES ON PRAYER IN THE NEXT LESSON.

INTRO TO “TEACH ME TO PRAY”

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary, so starts the declaration of independence which defines (along with some other documents) the freedoms we have in this country. The freedom to worship after the dictates of our hearts is one of the most important of all.

Out of the millions of gods so worshiped if one is lucky enough to have recognized the one true GOD and to have made their commitment to HIM they are truly blessed. It is further to be noted that not only do we have an object to worship but we also are able to communicate with HIM, and this communication is not limited to a monologue but rather it is a dialogue.

Our relationship is internalized in as much that GOD the Holy Spirit dwells within us so our communication is not long distanced. I decided to rehearse my knowledge and feelings concerning prayer because I suspect that those among us who can face the truth will admit they have more failures than successes in prayer.

When prayer is made the “what I’m gonna get” philosophy rules in many cases instead of what does GOD want in this matter. It is so hard to conclude that I am not the most important being in this universe and there are problems larger than what I have.

Jesus called us friends but at the same time we are friends who are called to serve. Any benefit we receive from prayer must at the same time serve the purposes of GOD. for we are in this together and not only self serving.

Should you read any of my posts on prayer - - remember they are what came to my mind and not a treatise on the subject. If you see something you have a different view on, so be it.

The main thing to remember is to check up on yourself and reinforce those beliefs you are comfortable with. No one is being tested or challenged as to their beliefs except me. This study has caused me some discomfort but I have dealt with it.

TEACH ME TO PRAY Part 1

The time was the summer of 1948. I had shortly before been born again (saved). I was excited about everything that pertained to the Christian experience.

The pastor of the church was an older man who had been ministering for over 40 years. He had been a lawyer prior to entering the ministry and was straight foreword. He was a kind of “yea and nay” person with little in between.

I heard him pray at one time, and he was saying, “Lord teach me to pray.”

This shocked me for someone who had been in the ministry that long to pray like that. I figured that he after that long a time should know all there was about praying.

While praising GOD there might be some response from GOD but in the main, our way to have a dialogue with GOD is to pray.

There are two basic ways to pray and is described in 1 Corinthians 14:15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

The difference between the two avenues of prayer is; one is a product of the mind influenced by the Holy Spirit and the other is out of the Reborn Spirit in which the Spirit dwells.
There are those who argue out of their know nothingness saying, He (the Holy Spirit) doesn’t really dwell within man but is just a figure of speech or some other nonsensical reasoning’s.

This just proves that they fall short of experience and have no reality concerning spiritual things. Their approach to things of the Spirit has occurred in the mind where confusion reigns yet they continue to push forward their arguments.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.

DWELLS WHERE?
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? DWELLS WHERE?
Romans 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

TEMPLE OF WHAT?

Colossians 1:27 To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you,

Romans 8:9 But if God's Spirit lives in you, you are under the control of your spiritual nature, not your corrupt nature. Whoever doesn't have the Spirit of Christ doesn't belong to him.

All these scriptures lead one to believe the Holy Spirit is an indwelling spirit that dwells within the Christian.

Those who see the Holy Trinity as one GOD expressed in three persons also see a unity that is one movement. All are totally involved in every action yet act individually. Recognize that at present the Holy Spirit is our connection to GOD. Understanding this is the key to everything that pertains to our relating to GOD.

In the forthcoming posts we will go further into this and allow the Lord to “Teach us to pray.”

NEEDED A NEW REVELATION

What makes the Bible different from other books is the very nature of the words themselves.

While the printed page can inform, enlighten, and inspire the reader, the bible goes one important step further and that is it is a revelation of the mind and purpose of GOD. It unfolds the reason and need for salvation. It explains the relationship of GOD, man and other spiritual beings.

Some read the scriptures like a news paper and are not moved to repentance while others view it as the very word of GOD. A minister I knew related a story that another pastor had introduced him to a man that had memorized the entire Bible. The minister said; that is amazing whereupon the pastor said; that isn't the most amazing part, the most amazing part is, he isn't a Christian.

W.G. Scroggie said; “There is no easy way to knowledge and he who would know the scriptures must bring to them not only a hungry heart but also an attentive mind.”

The attentive mind will be enlightened by the scriptures and the hungry heart will receive the truth of them and they will transform the seeker from a sinful condition to one who is redeemed.

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Apostle Paul).

If the Christian is not careful the Bible will become abstract excluding the merits of the truth therein.

I discovered a new revelation of how read the scriptures. This involves recognizing that the writers themselves are; human beings with the same frailty as I have,

James 6:17 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are.

James included both himself and his readers in this condition. They fought the same battles of relationships, raising families, earning a living and the daily struggles. They had to rise above all these things and allow the

Spiritual anointing and inspiration to direct their mind to put words on paper while moved upon by the Holy Spirit. They wrote what GOD wanted their readers to know.

Further I keep in mind that the writers are brothers in the LORD and when I read their letter to me it is like they themselves are instructing me in the ways of righteousness and they must not be taken lightly.

Paul wrote that GOD had placed the responsibility of all the churches upon him and his words to the churches of correction were a constant burden.

They were like his children, needing to be encouraging and correcting, and like most parents, discipline was never enjoyable but necessary. Behind his words was a heart that ached for the successful conduct of all the churches.

I keep in mind as I read the battles they were experiencing, their lives being in danger at all times from the Roman rulers. Many walked, talked, and lived with Jesus at a human level while learning spiritual truths they could only understand later.

As the writers communicate their hearts burden to me, their words, and GOD’S word take on deeper meanings, and as I read, it becomes to me a new revelation.

JESUS THE ACTIVIST

I sometime wonder how Jesus would conduct himself if he were alive on earth and was in the flesh today? Would he be passive and kept in the place that the politicians and educators had carved out for him?

The Sanhedrin represents the religious hierarchy of today, with their pretence of being one with Christ.

The record shows Christ’s utter contempt for the hypocritical leaders in the temple and what would he think of so called ministers of today that are building up their personal kingdom of self in his name?

Many of the pulpits of America are filled with actors that are playing the part of Holy Ghost filled disciples, but they are only building up the kingdom of SELF and being enriched by it.

There is one thing common among believers in Christ and that is a desire for the miraculous to be manifested among us, and these pretenders are willing and able to take advantage of that.

Matthew 7:22 - 23 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you that practice lawlessness."

The time is coming, called by Christ “that day” when all defenses of Evil done in this life will fade away and the gavel of final justice will be sounded.

The thing missing on that day will be mercy and grace for that day will have passed.

Jesus said “whoever is not for me is against me” they are called  “antichrists.”

The occupation doesn’t matter or the station in life or how nice you are. If you are not for Christ and his Kingdom he will say “I never knew you.”

The Greek word anti is Αντί" it can mean not only “against” and “opposite of”, but also “in place of.

To be antichrist can mean you accept something else in place of Christ, be it another religion, philosophy or things of the world. The operative word is

Take heed!

Deuteronomy 11:16 "Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods (things) and worship them.

Christianity is not based on good intentions and suggestions, but upon positive, active Faith in Christ and prudent actions in our walk.

http://christiantheology.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/depart-from-me-i-never-knew-you/

SURROGATING

The word surrogate brings into mind a woman who becomes pregnant for a price and bears a child for another. Surrogate basically means someone who takes the place of another person. The very word surrogate has multiple meanings when associated with another word such as deputy surrogate; it means who can legally act on the behalf of another.

Surrogating usually means the using another for one’s own benefit. This could be a mutually beneficial to both or either, albeit personally or in business. Problems develop (in the surrogating process) when there are no rules of conduct or the rules are not followed, or there wasn’t a meeting of the minds.

The practice of surrogating is prevalent in the practice fornication and adultery that is the substituting of one person in the place of another.

When the wife or husband is replaced by another it is a value statement where the replaced one is considered being of less value than their replacement even if the act is only temporary. If the happening is discovered the offended person is never able to recover what has been lost to them (their self esteem).

The Christian is not allowed to either fornicate or commit adultery. You might say “who said so”. The answer is “GOD SAID SO.”  To do so is a sin; it’s that plain and simple. When someone sins GOD is obligated to judge the sinner.

Hebrews 12:8 If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

This discipline is for the purpose of correction of conduct. Repentance and asking forgiveness is another issue.

Proverbs 29:1The man that with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him, shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him.

In sports the coaches watch intently what each player did in certain situations and afterward they attempt to correct the player’s tendencies to error. Then the player gets his chance to correct his mistakes, GOD’S correction is along the same lines as the coach.

The time will come when we all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account of the deeds done in the flesh. The only thing allowed there is the truth, lying is not allowed. If the relationships you were in, were not in GOD’S plan, there will be no way out and there will be judgment. Each will get their opportunity to explain why they knowingly disobeyed HIS commands.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.

If nothing else this statement sets the tone, that GOD will have to judge man’s works.

James 4:17 Therefore, anyone who knows what is right but fails to do it is guilty of sin.

O ye who are in a relationship, are ye doing that which you know is wrong? Excuses are not allowed! No not in the world to come.

The bottom line is “if you are going to be bold enough to knowingly sin then you better be smart enough to explain to GOD why you did it and get ready for the consequences.

PRO FORMA

The term pro forma is a Latin term meaning to satisfy the minimum requirements or to conform to a convention or doctrine.

There is a position that can be taken by confessing Christians called ekeing it out. It could be called “Barely getting in.” If I can just get inside the gate, mentality.

This idea of how much can I get away with it, and still make it into heaven? is an idea thought up in the realm of Satan. He expects it to be the philosophy that many will buy into. The, I don’t care so much for the rewards thing I just want to “make it in” attitude.

In football you often hear that the game is a game of inches. Sometime they miss a first down by a half inch, and games have been lost by just that much.

To miss heaven by “an inch” would be a tragic mistake. Peter preached a sermon and the people listened and the following was of record. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Toys of the senses and soulical foolishness are things that must be put away in order for an entrance into the joys of the Lord to be guaranteed.

Romans 13:12-14 The night is almost over, and the day is near. Let us therefore put aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as people who live in the light of day. No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, rivalry, or jealousy! Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not obey your flesh and its desires.

There you have it in a nut shell, it couldn’t be much plainer.

It is possible to be dressed down, not fit for the occasion, engaging in the “sluff off” lifestyle, but the scripture sees a lot differently;

Ephesians 6 tells us what to wear and how to order our conduct. Having done this there will be no question as to your future. The last line of Eph.6 is a good one; May grace be with all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with sincerity!
I hope those who read this can say AMEN, instead of “OH ME,” and like the Eunuch in the book of Acts go your ways rejoicing.

“And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing.”

MINDLESS OVER MATTER

There is a great flap been going around the last number of years. It has taken many forms but the essence of it is mind over matter.

“If you can think it, it will be.” It centers around controlling all negative thoughts by not thinking them, replacing them with positive thinking. It follows the usual path of taking a little truth or principal and adding some irrational ideology to it, and coming up with the answers to life.

By associating their ideology with successful men (declaring they found this truth) it finds validation, and being unchallenged it stands as truth.

Another method of this is to take a force in the universe such as magnetism (which is the power of attraction) and make the application that all the facets of life are controlled by the power of attraction. If you learn the secret of attraction then you can do, or have anything you want. This applies to health, wealth, and love (the big three) your positive thoughts become magnets that draw these things to you.

These powers of attraction evangelists have much in common, the main issue is to tap into people’s need, wants and greed for these are the tools these self-proclaimed gurus use.

Going on, there are those who use the same methodology when preaching. The end being the same and that is to enrich themselves, and have power over people. They tell you what to think, how to think it, and then use one of the many techniques for extracting money from your pocket to GOD. (Which in reality is into their bank account.)

These charlatans will use the scriptures to prove their points, never mind the context or what the Holy Spirit had in mind when He moved upon the Biblical writers to write.

Whether in the secular or religious field, they always have their out when what they say fails in the lives of real people. It is always you are not controlling you mind with positive thoughts or you aren't believing and it’s your fault and not the fault of my truth. This leaves the seeker defeated and most times with a lighter purse.

Some of the secular teachers will use scriptures in their presentation for a little extra validation for those who have some spiritual sense about them.

Just as the scripture says “A little leaven, leavens the whole lump.”  Teachings that contain untruth causes the whole of their truth to be a lie.

One of the vilest acts that can be carried out is when a professed minister of the gospel uses a Christian’s dedication to GOD to manipulate them for their own benefit. It is evil in action, perpetrated by greed by those who in the end time will hear these most dreadful words of all “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

There is some truth to be found in the statement “Mind over matter,” but as practiced by present day gurus it has become an exercise of the mindless.

Big ideas don’t make you a mental giant any more that quoting scripture makes you a true expounder of GOD’S word

THE LAST NAIL

A gypsy smithy was approached by a Roman legionnaire, and commissioned to forge twelve large nails. He was use to jobs of this kind, and having no reason to question his patrons, the smith did as he was bid, only to learn that the nails were to be used to fix Christ and the robbers to their crosses.

Stricken with remorse, the gypsy handed his son three of the nails, and bid him flee with them. When the Centurion arrived to collect, the smith said that he had only had time to complete nine, and handed these over. The Roman was forced to make do with what he had, securing the three victims to their crosses with only three nails apiece, thus saving them much pain.

The young thief, the three nails safely hidden, passed the foot of the cross as he fled, and Jesus smiled down on him and blessed him, excusing the gypsies ever after from committing a sin when they stole, and thus theft is not an immoral act for the Romany.

However, an angry mob, discovering that the nails that executed Jesus were gypsy work, drove the smith and his kin from their land, and they have been doomed to be chased on ever since, wandering and unable to settle until the three missing nails are discovered, and their persecution ends. Story as told by a gypsy man.

This is but one version of the dispensation given to the Gypsy people. There are as many versions as there are gypsies. The main idea is they are free to rob and steal at will without spiritual consequence. According to some the fourth nail was to be driven through the heart of Christ bringing instant death. He wouldn't have been able to utter the final words on the cross. If Christ had not said the words on the cross a lot of sermon material would have been lost.

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened--those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come--

And who then are those who turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. Due to this fact the above circumstance is impossible for Christ to die again.

Quote from: Richard Myers on October 31, 2008, 08:38:23 AM
” There are those in the church who, unless thoroughly converted, will crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. These are very strong statements about what it means to be a Christian. So very few understand this. Many have been taught that they are living the Christian life while sinning. They even believe they have eternal life while crucifying Christ afresh. It is an amazing thing to witness.

The power of God's love is strong enough to actually make us partakers of His divine nature if we will allow it into our hearts. And....Christ can keep us if we will hold on to His hand! There is no excuse for sin. Christ has provided a way of escape. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear.


The problem for many is that they have no concept of the horrible nature of sin. Without that, you cannot see God's holiness in the right light. They think that "little" sins are insignificant. I know this because I have thought that way before. Even now I know I must fight this battle in my mind. The devil would have us think that only the things we see as major are to be guarded against, but this is a lie.”

It is like having a special dispensation of grace for sinning and that without consequence.

As we see some have strong feelings concerning committing sins and I suspect that GOD also feels similarly.

I found a verse by Mrs. Frank A Breck  - - Shall I Crucify Him?

Shall I crucify my Savior,
When for me He bore such loss?
Shall I put to shame my Savior,
Can I nail Him to the cross?

Are temptations so alluring,
Do earth's pleasures so enthrall,
That I cannot love my Savior
Well enough to leave them all?

'Twas my sins that crucified Him;
Shall they crucify Him yet?
Blackest day of nameless anguish,
And my thankless soul forget?

O, the kindly hands of Jesus,
Pouring blessings on all men!
Bleeding, nail scarred hands of Jesus,
Can I nail them once again?

Shall I crucify my Savior,
Crucify my Lord again?
Once, O once, I crucified Him,
Shall I crucify again?

Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voawjjqg8zw&feature=related

“FAR WOULD 4 SAIL”

Due to an infirmity in the thinking process I had to read that sign two or three times to understand it. What some would consider it a misuse of the language “de Jour,” yet it communicates thoughts and ideas, and that is what language is all about.

Still a standardized version works better universally.

The power of ideas is power that can be exercised over people’s minds bringing them into subjection and obedience. Total obedience is hard to achieve because the last vestige of resistance tries to remain but due to pressure finally submits.

When ideas promote some form of religious belief system it takes on an additional layer of power. The books follow the ideas.

As we examine some of the religions that have popped up in the last few centuries we see the importance of the books. Within the “Books,” there is a system of control factors that require obedience with ultimate power placed in their “Prophet” better known as the guy who thought up this ‘Thing.”

It is obvious that sooner or later some will ask why do people go for all these illogical reasoning’s?

The offer of being superior to others has its appeal and an intelligent presentation that puts down objections seals the deal for many.

Scientology is a perfect example of this; it goes further by adding works for reaching the desired goal. The real answer is the desire to expunge an inner guilt that constantly urges one to seek relief. This opens one to any promise of deliverance.

All of the above brings me to this; there is no idea that GOD has put forth that Satan can’t imitate or skew in some way. Start in the garden where marriage was between a man and a woman. Satan has really worked that one over. One interesting definition of skew is; to twist, to distort especially from a true value.

Because of so many claims saying this is the way, to worship the only GOD is in such a disingenuous state that finding the true GOD is a miracle in itself. Consider yourself fortunate to be so blessed, should you have found HIM.

When those who have followed these false ideologists find that they could have had the real thing, their defense, “I was skewed" - - will not be sufficient to get them off the hook.

The words “Today is the day of salvation,” are GOD’S ultimate expression to seekers.

Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call you on him while he is near: you will not be disappointed.

My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, All I have to do is follow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, All I have to do is follow.
Strength for today, is mine all the way, And all that I need for tomorrow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, All I have to do is follow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zo3fJYtS-o&feature=related

OLD TIME RADIO

Growing up in the thirties and forties (and for that matter in the 2010s) I was captivated by the old radio programs.

I loved the way they let me use my imagination. As they described the action I visualized every event and was quite involved.

I could see the masked man (Lone Ranger) and his horse Silver as he said; “Hi ho Silver away.”

The programs inner sanctum and I love a mystery caused me to sleep with my head under the covers. It was amazing how those covers provided a protective shield that nothing could penetrate.

Recently I started to download some of these programs and listen to them again and I’m happy to report that the covers still work especially for the “Lights out” mystery program.

While some humor is dated programs like Baby Snooks still can make you laugh. There are literally thousands of free downloads available and without the vulgar and swear words. While there are many sites that sponsor them the URL below is my favorite one. You should be able to copy and paste it should be interested.

(Or hold down the “Control” on your computer while you click on the site below.)

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=%28collection%3Aoldtimeradio%20OR%20mediatype%3Aoldtimeradio%29%20AND%20-mediatype%3Acollection&sort=-avg_rating%3B-num_reviews

COONEY BOY

Having been thrown back to my country childhood roots, some years ago I bought some Blue Tick Coonhound pups. Then of course I had to train them to go night hunting.

I hooked up with some other hunters, most of which I dropped due their lack of intelligence. My pups grew quickly and started to do what Coon hounds do and that was to hunt.

The problem was they would hunt everything especially deer. When they started to chasing a deer they would run for miles, and the hunt was over for the night. Some hours later when the dogs came back we would go home very unhappy about the night’s event.

I really enjoyed hunting especially when they would get mixed up with a skunk. There was nothing better than to be washing dogs at 3 o’clock in the morning and having to smell skunk odor for the next few days.

In order to break my pups off of deer I bought a raccoon and kept him in a steel cage made of heavy steel rods and he was suppose to be my example of what they should be hunting for.

Old Cooney boy was consistent he hated everything and everybody. He would rip your leg off if he got to you. He let me know right off that he didn’t train dogs. He was one mean sucker that you didn’t mess with. Since I didn’t want my dog’s ears tore up I never let them get together.

I always thought if I could be as constant and unswerving in my Christian walk as Cooney was in his, I’d be a better man for it.

Cooney lived with us for quite awhile, and my step dad LD, always fed him. After many months, LD could feed him without having to use a piece of plywood to pin Cooney in a corner while he filled his food bowl.

After a couple of years I decided Cooney boy wasn’t a mind to be tamed down so I took him up to the woods and let him go. He walked a few feet away, turned, snarled and hissed at me and took off never to be seen again.

Those Blue Tick Hound pups sure did love to hunt. One named Sugar died first but Ole Blue lived almost 15 years. Even when he couldn’t hardly get around he would still sneak off to hunt, and I would have to go looking for him. One day we went out to our kennel and found Ole Blue just laying there stiff as a board. I have had many dogs, but Ole Blue was my favorite of all because he was very special, but that is another story.

LOVE god ??

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:37-38

I hate it when questions pop into mind that I feel inadequate to answer.

As the title implies if I view GOD as a little, just ordinary god then I am too independent to be bothered with him. We seem to be equals without any simpatico or attraction.

But if I see HIM as the creator of all, whose essence is Eternal, Omnipotent and all the other omni powers, then I have things in a different perspective and a basis for unabashedly honoring HIM.

I have the option of not loving GOD, but along with that there a commandment that takes precedent over “my rights,” for with GOD, he doesn’t see my option to not love HIM as acceptable.

What kind of love is this that he is talking about? What we hear the most about love, is eroticism that is temporal and like a vapor it soon disappears only to reemerge later.

Then there is passionate love where it could be called possessive love, a belonging to one another, making demands on one another.

While there are other definitions of love the one that comes closest to the love of GOD is the parent, child relationship.

GOD loves with an unconditional love but HIS other attributes demand certain responses from the object of HIS love.

In other words, just because GOD loves you doesn’t mean you can get away with disobedience and failing to respond in like manner. If we follow the teaching of some teachers who say that GOD is emotionless then it will be difficult to grasp why HE requires us to love HIM.

HE is not only “GOD is love” He is involved in responsive love where there is an exchange of emotion. If HE hates sin, why can HE not feel our love response?

The one important thing Jesus did while on earth was to reveal GOD as the father; this changed our concept of GOD from some abstract being to a being who we can relate to.

Jesus went further and showed us how we are included in the family of the FATHER. John 14:20-21, 23-24"In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you." 

 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.

"Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.

"He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."

Love GOD? Are you obedient to HIS word? This is the way you show it. Praise is gratitude, obedience is love. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFVohSlUkKA&feature=related

WHO LET THAT SNAKE IN?

A better question is; why did the serpent yield itself to Satan and deceive Adam and Eve?

There are probably not many questions with greater scope than that. If we conclude that the serpent was used by Satan then it would also be safe to surmise that he was first deceived by Satan. It was a lose - lose proposition for all in the garden for all were evicted or some were locked in with no way out.

We will never be tempted to the degree that the serpent, Adam or Eve were but the same quality of temptation is available to all, especially Christians.

Temptation is a non issue unless there is a responder within the one that is tempted.

James 1:14 Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him.

Ephesians 6:11 speaks of the wiles of the devil. (A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare.)

Our senses are tools that are used to get our attention to the vessels of temptation. Sin is accompanied by; happening and consequence and often regret. The devil exaggerates the pleasures of sin while minimizing the true nature and outcome of sin.

As the serpent was used in the garden, so also will other enticements be used to draw you toward sin, and if one isn’t careful even as Eve was drawn to the forbidden fruit so also you may be drawn.

First temptation and then desire (lust) James 1:15 When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

The progression is desire, birth, growth and then it becomes a ruling force that controls the individual much like one who tries drugs and then it controls them. Remember it is always the serpent that lures and deceives you but behind him is the true force of evil.

Job 1:7"Where have you come from?" the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on."

1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Well I reckon we all know this stuff and know most of us have vulnerabilities we need to especially guard.

Adam and Eve also had sufficient warnings but chose to ignore them. Nuff said!

KEEP YOUR FINGERS TO YOURSELF

This is what I feel like saying when I have a checkup at the doctors. The exams are somewhat intrusive to say the least.

At one time I had a female doctor and at first I felt uncomfortable but she was great. If you can imagine she actually listened to you, and was very knowledgeable. Another good thing was, she had long, slender fingers, which was helpful for some distasteful exams.

The Apostle Paul had spiritual problems with some in Corinth. 1Corinthians 11:17-22

“Barnes notes; Such an irregular and indecent observance as existed in the church of Corinth, where even gluttony and intemperance prevailed under the professed design of celebrating the Lord's Supper.”

When Jesus said; do this in remembrances of me, this feasting and boozing wasn’t what He had in mind. Beside that, some couldn't afford this and were left out.

Paul said: 1 Corinthians 11:27-28 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks from the Lord's cup in an improper way will be held responsible for the Lord's body and blood. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

When he said that, he wasn’t saying, check yourself for BO, for he was referring to the inward man, to check him out. Not too many people enjoy being examined even if it is self examination especially if it is of the inward man. Paul was saying there is an outward symptom that is probably a reflection of a deeper problem inside and we need to run some tests and find out what is the cause.

As a Christian you can dodge the Word for just so long, and then it will catch up with you and when it does, it doesn’t go away until it has accomplished what it was sent there for;

Isaiah 55:11 My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do."

When the Word of GOD comes to you - - might as well give it up and straighten up, for it is there to stay until it has accomplished its purpose. The Holy Spirit is using this power filled Word of GOD to help you in your daily walk, and you thought it was just a mental exercise.

Hebrews 4;12 For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Everything that is you is laid bare, nothing hidden. Your thoughts before you think them are known; your acts before you do them are revealed.

I have it on good authority that the only thing in heaven that will be rewarded, and that is OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD. HUMMMM!

Had a word lately?

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Several years ago Clint Eastwood appeared in a movie by the name The Good, the Bad and the Ugly it portrayed three men, each one portraying one of the above.

Clint was the good in this instance, but they all could have been considered the bad.

Having spent sometime in the hospital I experienced some of that good, bad, and ugly treatment from the nurses.

A few (thankfully) certainly fit the ugly personification for they let you know that you were disturbing them when you needed help. They saved their sweetness for someone else if they had any sweetness at all.

I was impressed how hard life would be, having to live with them, and pity a child in that environment. My experience with nurses trained in other countries has not been good but that is just my experience.

Then, there were those who were bad, some very bad. The range was from mediocre to downright awful. Once when I was somewhat comfortable in bed, this nurse came flying into the room and started rearranging everything. All my stuff I was using was within arms length, but she grabbed it and put it where I would have to get out of bed and take it down from a shelf. Then she moved the bed and then proceeded to grab me and jerk me up high up in the bed where I was very uncomfortable. When she got everything the way she wanted it she said; “There that’s better.”

This woman had graduated from nurses’ school in the sixties and wore the style of hat they wore at that time, which looked a little strange. She continued doing things that made me uncomfortable, and I finally told the head nurse to keep her out of my room. Later I found I wasn’t the only one who had complained about her. I felt sorry for her because she was trying so very hard to do a job but I just couldn’t handle the weirdness.

Then there were many others who were great. They were watchful over you and always checked on you to see if you needed anything. There were two or three who were exceptional.

One I remember well, I had been given some drug that sent me on a trip and I was extremely confused. I lost touch with reality and the “no reality” was frightening. This nurse checked on me, and realized what was going on, and she sat and talked to me for several hours until the drug wore off. I was genuinely thankful that she stayed with me through that episode, and I never want to take a trip like that again.

Overall my hospital trips have been as good as one could expect, for this isn’t suppose to be fun.

I am thankful for the good, the bad, and the ugly for they all played a part in my survival.

ORFICE OF GOOD AND EVIL

Psalms 34:13 Keep your tongue from saying evil things and your lips from speaking deceitful things.

I dare not look within my heart for I fear that there be some evil hidden there and I fain not to address it. How it is revealed that it may be judged? How can I be true if I know not myself?

My hearts cries “nought, nought” it can not expel that which is unseen, for the roots are fixed deeper than deeper within. The root, the branch and then the fruit, though squelched, remains ready to come alive, and be expressed to destroy all other delights.

Oh, tongue, oh lips, oh revealer of that which is within, be silent lest I be exposed and shamed. Or worse, there be no shame and my norm, beds in evil thoughts continually and I am lost with the lost, hopelessly undone. I must change for I can no longer live with despicable thoughts of evil that arise from within.

Death, can you deliver me? How so then? Can the man of old that I am, cease to be, and I be free? Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

Who speaks the word that shows me the way? Let him utter words for my deliverance, for I eagerly hope for them…..Ye must be born again! I must be born again? I must, be born again! Let me be, born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, so I may truly say;

Galatians 2:20“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

“The tongue is an instrument of much evil, an unruly member, and needs restraint; and it is from evil, and not from good, it is to be kept; from evil speaking of God, from cursing and swearing; from evil speaking of men, reproaching and reviling them; from filthy speaking, from all obscene and unchaste words, and from all lying ones; for where such evil speaking is indulged, the fear of God cannot be in that man; hypocritical and deceitful words, speaking with flattering lips and a double heart: some speak bad words in common conversation, through an evil habit and custom; and some speak good words with an ill design; and in neither of them is the fear of God before their eyes, nor in their hearts.” Gill

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Amen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmB0u5BQ8BM