THE IRRELAVANCY OF GOD

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Today the self appointed wise men/women have declared that GOD is irrelevant therefore his words are also meaningless.

In doing this they have declared they are free from all restraints that any of HIS commandments may have placed upon them. Things like loving GOD, stealing, even murders are considered restraints, and are to be thrown off in this enlighten society.

University of Missouri researcher Tyler Jamison says, that most of her college friends were “shacking up,” but had not formally moved in together.  Instead, they spent three or more nights together during the week and still kept their own places. Jamison believes stay-over relationships represent a general trend that young people want to delay permanent relationships because they want to finish their education and pursue other goals.

The time when people did that which was right in their own eyes has returned with great approval among those who consider themselves wise.

While it is almost unbelievable that those who claim to be Christians are numbered with these people it may be a fact of life.

When a Christian violates the word of GOD it is a declaration of their independence from the restraint HIS word places upon them and the irrelevancy of GOD in their lives sets in.

Sexual immorality by Christians is sometimes validated by future intent; “We're going to get married” or we have a spiritual marriage.

Not that I wish to offend anyone but perhaps looking at what GOD actually said might be in order.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1Corinthians 6:13 ... The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.

 Deuteronomy 27:22-23 ‘Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother. ‘Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law.’

Leviticus 18:20 ...you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, to defile yourself with her.

Proverbs 6:32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.

Of course for the one who considers GOD being irrelevant these words mean nothing. But one thing we can be sure of, “The road to Hades is filled with those who count GOD as being irrelevant.”

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I WANT IT ALL

Wrestling in Prayer

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Many years age I saw a cartoon depicting a man in prayer. You could see he was wrestling with what to say and how to say it. You see he was one of those who thought, if he expected to get his prayer answered he had to butter up GOD a little and impress Him with a thoughtful collection of words.

As he struggled to find just the right expressions, he finally gave up and just blurted out “I want it all”. I suppose most of us would agree with that prayer.

We want it all!

The problem is we run head on into some scriptures that indicate that we should be satisfied with “less than all”.

1Timothy 6:8 As long as we have food and clothes, we should be satisfied.

Proverbs 30:8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Philippians 4:11  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Sometimes it is well to check out the words of others concerning contentment for we should have no goals that doesn’t espouse contentment.

Since we cannot get what we like, let us like what we can get. - Spanish Proverb

What makes us discontented with our condition is the absurdly exaggerated idea we have of the happiness of others. - French Proverb

Happy the man who can endure the highest and the lowest fortune. He, who has endured such vicissitudes with equanimity, has deprived misfortune of its power. - Seneca

Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty. – Socrates

You can't have everything. Where would you put it? - Steven Wright

Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and a happy purchase. - John Balguy

It is a wise man that does know the contented man is never poor, whilst the discontented man is never rich. Frank Herbert

Strive to only have that which brings with it “Contentment”.

THINK YOU WILL ESCAPE?

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There is a story in the Bible about the Persian king Ahasuerus who dumped his wife and married a fresh young thing named Esther who was a Jewess. Enter the scene a man with great political aspirations named Haman. He convinces the king to kill all the Jews. Not knowing Esther was a Jew,

the king agrees. Esther’s uncle Mordechai tells Esther to try to talk the king out of this mass murder and told her, “Do you think you will escape?” The rest of the story is found in the book of Esther in the Bible.

Yesterday a rich man was someone who had millions of dollars, today that has been redefined to someone who makes 250,000 dollars a year and the President wishes to tax them at a higher rate because he has declared them to be rich and he needs their money.

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Many Americans go along with this line of thinking because it doesn’t affect them.

The question is what about tomorrow? In this spend and tax environment who will be declared to be rich tomorrow?

By using terms like compromise, fair share and other manipulative rhetoric the new rich will be - - all tax payers and will be easy picking for the “Spend and Taxers” in Congress.

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Soon the American debt will have to be paid and the tax payer is the only source the government has.

Do you think you will escape?

BOOOORED

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I haven't heard it so often recently, but when my children were young, the theme song around my house was, “I'm bored.”

I must confess it caused me to want to send them to the moon by fast express.

As a young child I had to “Work,” to make sure I was fed, so I did not experience boredom. I had little sympathy for those who were always bored!

I reckon there are too many people who are bored for they end up getting into trouble.

There are many kinds of trouble, such as going shopping and spending money you don't have. Over extended Credit Cards, this is high on the list of trouble makers.

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And then there is the feuding, fussing and fighting that some do when bored.

The cure for boredom is doing something you enjoy and that will take up a lot of your time so you don't focus on your imaginary pain.

I take pleasure in cross word puzzles!

How about you, what do you find enjoyable to pass the time, besides TV?

The URL below is an exercise which costs little and can be much fun.

So now let’s see how adventurous you are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMokBr9cTxM&feature=channel

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WHAT’S IN A WORD

A Jewish man went into a furrier to buy a fur coat for his wife. He saw one which he wanted and he told salesman, “I want to hear a word” and the salesman said $10,000.00. The Jewish man said that wasn’t the word I wanted to hear.

When John the Baptist preached the word, “REPENT” wasn’t the word many wanted to hear. 

When Jesus was on the earth he said, “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing, and the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” And Jesus also said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

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The last thing many people want to hear is the words of Jesus; for there is conviction of sin in them and it takes all of the power of Satan in their lives to resist them.

There is spiritual life in God’s words, for the sinner, and for the Christian, a righteous life style also. It instructs and empowers the one who is reborn on how to live the life of Christ.

I have several Bibles but seldom use some of them and on occasion I will notice they are covered with dust and I wipe them clean.   

That dust tells me I don’t value the word of GOD highly enough otherwise there would not be any dust near them. I have two of three Bibles I use most of the time and they do not gather much dust for I use them often.  

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As the mirror will tell you how you look, the dust condition of your Bible will tell you how you value the Word of GOD, and how GOD sees you.

Song:  Dust On the Holy Bible

I went into a home one day to see some friends of mine,
Of all the books and magazines, not a Bible could I find.
I asked them for the Bible. When they brought it, what a shame!
For the dust was covered o'er it, not a fingerprint was seen.


Chorus
Dust on the Bible, dust on the Holy Word;
The word of all the prophets, and the sayings of our Lord.
Of all the other books you'll find, there's none salvation holds;
Get the dust off the Bible and redeem your poor soul.

Oh, you can read your magazines of love and tragic things
And not one word of Bible verse, not a scripture do you know.
When it is the very truth, and its contents, good for you.
Dust on the Bible will doom your poor soul.

Chorus
Dust on the Bible, dust on the Holy Word;
The word of all the prophets, and the sayings of our Lord.
Of all the other books you'll find, there's none salvation holds;
Get the dust off the Bible and redeem your poor soul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PuifU9Q7Es&feature=related

UNBELIEVEING PAPPY

My pappy was an unbeliever; that is in so much as him giving me and my brother any money. If you mention an allowance he would say; “What’s that?” And when I would start to explain he would say; “No way Bobby Ray.” Well that was the end of that.

Because he was always glad to get rid of me for awhile, he would give me a dime to go to the movie house which was a half a block away. He considered that a good investment and it pleased me also.

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At the movie house they sold popcorn but pappy never gave me money for that, but it sure smelled good anyhow. I would watch the movie and smell the other people’s popcorn as they ate it. There is something about doing without that builds in you a certain discipline that can serve you later in life.  It is a, ”Don’t need to have it,” discipline that keeps people from taking advantage of you.

Some Christians have difficulty in areas of their life simply because they are not able to control their wants. They are held captive by wanting instead of needing.

Many will say they want to be like Jesus, but they do not want to act like Jesus.

Matthew 4:8-11 Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give you, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus *said to him, ‘Go Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord Your God, and serve Him only.’ Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

Notice, Jesus did not WANT “all these things” that Satan showed to him. The devil showed Jesus any thing and every thing desirable on earth.  If Jesus had been a WANT driven person he might have failed in the task before him.

In this life, you will accomplish more if you are a NEED disciplined person instead of a want it - gotta have it person.

Phillipians 4:19 my GOD will supply all your need according to his riches in glory.

We sometime think what Paul meant to say was GOD will supply all my wants, and that he just wasn’t clear on the subject.

We read and pray “whatsoever things you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them.

Maybe you have enough faith to believe that you can receive more than GOD has promised, if so well amen to that. For myself, my faith quits working at the needs that GOD has promised to supply.

It is possible that you can work hard and supply your wants above your needs but that is another issue. At times wants and needs are so closely related that they are hard to distinguish one from another while others are as far apart as the east from the west.

A man might need a wife even as Adam needed a helpmate while another man might want a different wife from the one he has but will settle for an affair with a couple of ladies. Try to believe you receive that from GOD? No way Jose!

There is a book I recommend on this subject that is far more definitive than I could ever be the title is the “Holy Bible”.

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You also might enjoy this on you tube - - -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKTVOIDrw6s&feature=related

THE RICH UNCLE

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There is a story about a rich man that had many nephews and nieces and he loved them very much.

He spoiled them by giving them everything they wanted. At first he would shower them with gifts, but after awhile they began to demand to be allowed to make their own purchases and charge it to their uncle.

Some time passed and the uncle realized they had spent all of his money. He tried to explain there was no more money but they said you should borrow money because you have good credit.

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Because he loved them he started to borrow. This went on until most of the uncles income went toward paying the interest on his loans.

He tried to reason with them, but they said you have many things of value you could sell, and then they began to list his holdings. He had gold and silver, much real estate, such as buildings, land and other holdings.

Every time the uncle would try to curb their spending they would say “You are the richest man in the world.” That always buoyed him up and they would have another round of spending.

The time came when he had borrowed all he could, sold everything he had and his income was greatly reduced to the point his survival was in doubt.

The nephews and nieces said that old fool has wasted all his goods, so now what are we going to do?

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DEBT EQUALS SLAVERY

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When I first started thinking about this; debt equals slavery it opened my eyes to the fact that I had been sold into slavery by those I chose to represent me via the government.

I mistakenly thought they were going to do me good.

Can you imagine how shocked I was when I realized these people were only out for themselves and in fact have done me great harm. They have sold me like a chattel.

“Chattel slavery, is so named because people are treated as the personal property of an owner and are bought and sold as commodities. Debt bondage is a form of contemporary slavery in which a person pledges themselves against a loan. Debt bondage can be passed on from generation to generation.” (Wikipedia)

Like it or not this is exactly what the elected (so called) servants have done to me. When I elected my representative to congress I gave him my power of attorney and expected him to act for my good.

Instead he thought I signed my life away.

I will never be able to pay the debt he has placed upon me. I’m not sure who now owns me. I was a free man but now am a chattel slave due to my unpayable debt.

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COMFORT FOOD

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Wikipedia notes
Comfort foods may be consumed to positively pique emotions, to relieve negative psychological affects or to increase positive feelings. Comfort food consumption has been seen as a response to emotional stress, and consequently, as a key contributor to the epidemic of obesity. Studies suggest that consumption of comfort food is triggered in men by positive emotions, and by negative ones in women.

Seems like everything eventually is reduced to a psychological equation but as for me it is my appetite that longs for comfort food.

Now I must admit I get emotional when I think about certain foods but other foods just turn me off.

Over the years my taste has evolved to the point where I now like some foods I used to dislike. At present I like about 60% of what is considered to be edible foods (I exclude things like snails, squid, grasshoppers and other tidbits). The basic purpose of food is nourishment but it also provides the secondary benefit which is comfort.

There is that glorious feeling of having satisfied ones appetite and the knowing you have fueled the body for further service. This brings comfort to the soul and peace to the mind.
Metaphorically speaking the Word of GOD is spoken of as being food, albeit food for the soul and spirit of man.

Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.


Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

This applies to every man that has drawn the breath of life. If you are breathing, this verse applies to you, and if the Word of GOD is excluded you will be malnourished.

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I had a dog and as far as I know he never tasted his food, he just scarfed it down when he could have enjoyed it by taking his time.

In order to get the most benefit from the word of GOD it pays to take ones time, chew it slowly and let it comfort you. You are surly missing one of life’s great pleasures if you haven’t been comforted by GOD’S Word.

Jesus said; John 6:48 I am the bread of life. John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.


Isaiah 55:1-2 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come; buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

Truly GOD’S word is comfort food for your soul.

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This post is linked to Ann Kroeker's, Food on Friday site,  Please visit and enjoy some thoughts on food and perhaps a recipe or two! at:

http://annkroeker.com/2011/11/11/food-on-fridays-tea-is-necessary/

THE PERVADING DARKNESS

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 Light and Darkness

People have thousands of thoughts that pass through their minds, and while most are scarcely more than temporal, but others find a place where they are rehearsed and expanded upon.

Some thoughts become obsessive to the point they become as a depressive spirit or a pervading darkness of the mind. Most people have experienced this to one degree or another.

We live our lives in a laboratory seeking the truth where our life experiments (and experiences) are lived out.

Oft times our truth is not the truth and we live our life in a “state of flux” easily engineered by those who have own their agenda for our lives.

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Distorted Truth

Viola Larson has written;

Sometimes those who will not believe the Word of God do believe the strange words of humanity. Sometimes this happens on a sophisticated level, like rejecting the Lordship of Jesus Christ while holding on to the ethics and lifestyle of Buddha. But sometimes, and this is happening far too much in contemporary America, all the sludge of the shadows begins surfacing above the unbelief. And some start hanging around, in their minds, with devils, metaphorically speaking.

We find multiple forces trying to map out our way concerning what we think and believe and how we conduct ourselves. This goes far beyond social engineering, but into the world of the Spirit itself.

This darkness is spoken of in John 1:5

 And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

Yet the war goes on between The Darkness and The Light. The earth is the battlefield and the war against the saints is in full array.

William Ralph Inge has written: It is an amazing fact of history that what passes for history in the West is factually untrue. The people get public mythologies and government lies instead of the facts, so what they know is not real. Currently, the State is the principal actor and recorder of history. And what it records is not the truth, but what is politically convenient for the corrupt oligarchs and various special interests who have captured the State's myth-making powers.

This has never been truer than today for daily we are fed darkness instead of light.

Job 17:12 They make night into day: that which they call light is near to the darkness.

I am hard pressed to argue for the truth for those who are of the darkness oft times are more intelligent and far better educated than I, but it is the Lord who has risen up a standard against the Goliath of darkness that prevails today.



THE I.M.F

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President Obama and the Democratic Senate have voted to give the International Monetary Fund a 108 billion dollar line of credit which they can draw on at their discretion.

Whether it is Greece, Italy, Spain or Ireland that has been living “High on the hog,” and needs some more bail-out - - the bottom line is: “We the people,” are going to get the bill for their extravagance.

At present we are obligated to pay about 20% of the monies the IMF collects.

Christine Lagarde, the new IMF head is becoming impatient with the Republicans refusal to raise the debt limit so the IMF can get their share of the pie.

I wonder when this insanity will end. How long can we afford to borrow money and give it to other countries to maintain their failed political system?

The money polar caps are melting and soon we are going to be under the water of debt and don’t expect someone to come and bail us out.

The next election will decide whether the USA can survive. Unless all of the old politicians are voted out of office it will be goodbye to the old USA.

For these people on both sides of the aisle will see to it. Just look at where they have taken us to and they don’t know how to change.

It can and will get worse so sit back and enjoy the ride into political perdition

Conviction

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It is interesting to note people who are under conviction (of sin) and how they conduct themselves.

The first thing they don't understand is; they are under conviction and that’s what’s bothering them. Mark it down, one of the jobs of HOLY SPIRIT is to convict the world of sin and HE does a first class job of it.

From the dumbest to the highest educated among us the reaction is the same, they all want to fight back. They don't know how or what to fight so they use what tools they have, which allows them to pass time but does nothing to free them from their guilt.

Their guilt will sometime change to hate, they hate everything. They hate religion, especially the demands ALMIGHTY GOD requires of them. Their hate knows no bounds; they have enough of it for everything and everybody.

They will try everything to get rid of this thorn in the flesh, they will use drugs and alcohol to get relief, promiscuity is worth a try.

Their puffed up sense of superiority won’t allow themselves to humble themselves before GOD and allow HIM to supply their need, so they look elsewhere

As to the creation, they deify their science teachers and bow before their wisdom that declares evolution is the truth. Still after they have given their allegiance to science, the thorn still remains the conviction remains unscathed to continue being faithful its task.

This intangible force pursues the sinful one night and day, even though being continually rejected.

All men wish they could rid themselves of whatever it is that is bothering them but the answer still escapes them for they refuse to accept the only remedy available to them. They must have a change of mind before they can have a change of heart.

This is why GOD has said; preach the word! Be instant in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. As the word go forth and is received conviction is lifted for the job is done, the guilt is gone, the old is gone the new is here.

JOHN 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

MARILYN BEING MARILYN

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Quotes from Marilyn Monroe

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

"A wise girl kisses but doesn't love, listens but doesn't believe, and leaves before she is left."

"I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love."

"If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything."

"When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them."

"If you're gonna be two-faced at least make one of them pretty."

"It's better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone."

"The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space."

"Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.”

"Ever notice how 'What the hell,' is always the right answer?"

"Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world."

"I don't mind living in a man's world, as long as I can be a woman in it."

"She was a girl who knew how to be happy even when she was sad. And that’s important — you know”

"I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn't argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn't."

We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets."

"Who said nights were for sleep?"

The nicest thing for me is sleep, and then at least I can dream."

"All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren't."

“We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle."

"Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition."

"It's not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on."

"You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself."

"It’s better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you’re not"

Success makes so many people hate you. I wish it wasn't that way. It would be wonderful to enjoy success without seeing envy in the eyes of those around you."

ONE SHE DIDN’T SAY WAS “LIVE FAST AND DIE YOUNG” WHICH WAS WHAT SHE DID.

FAITH HUMMM?

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Every so often I realize that I talk too much, most of it is to myself and while it can be encouraging, sometimes it borders on the ridiculous.

I believe there is a distinction between thinking and talking to myself.

Thinking has the quality of problem solving, evaluation, and decision based on known and projected facts.

Talking does some of the above but includes the emotions and produces a plethora, what ifs, desire and fantasy. It isn’t always based on “sound thinking” but accommodates wistful ideas.

Because of this phenomenon, the faith of the believer often suffers.

There is a story in the Old Testament, where Jacob gave a coat of many colors to his son Joseph. And like this coat, faith has many colors or facets. It may be; faith in, faith for, faith of and faith which, all these kinds of faith are for our use and benefit.

Faith in, is the core of the Christian life and experience. It is the entrance into eternal life and relationship with ALMIGHTY GOD. Your faith will be under attack each and every day of your Christian walk. It is the umbilical chord that connects you to GOD, through which you receive all your sustenance.

At times these attacks will make you feel like you are in a vice and you are being squeezed so severe that you can’t survive it. They will come from every source and will continually test you at every level.

The main thing to do is to firmly establish, once for all and forever your faith in GOD and refuse to allow any thing to shake you from that position. Do not let temporal education (that is always changing) riches, poverty, health, sickness, disappointments, relationships, failures or any other thing, in any way affect or weaken this faith in HIM.

Paul said it like this in Romans 8:33-39
35 Who can separate us from Christ's love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long. We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through the one who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Under no circumstances, ever, let the battle be fought about your faith in GOD, keep it separate from that. Let the battles be about defeating satanic forces and whether you win or lose a particular fight you still are firmly fixed in faith, in GOD. Do not let self talk be a player in your faith in GOD for it changes with the wind and circumstances, but our GOD stands firm and unchangeable.

Last thought, we are created in his image. Let us be firm and unchangeable even as HE is in our faith.

Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdo4Eyw4DqM&feature=related
(Not too crazy about techno but very nice otherwise)

THE AMAZING GRACE

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It has been said that this is the whole of the gospel is in these four verses.

Titus 2:11-14 (New International Version)
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

The lessons herein can be overlooked if one is not of a hungry heart.

A sure effect of His grace is a desire and longing for Gospel ordinances; and when they are afforded, they cannot be neglected without loss. For those who feel their need of Him, and whose hearts are drawn towards Him, he is always present. Every room in the house, yea, every spot they stand on, fields, lanes, and hedge-rows, all is holy ground to them; for the Lord is there (John Newton)

How precious is the knowledge that His omnipresence is ever with us. This understanding prompted saints of old to be admonished to practice the presence of GOD for you are always in His presence. There is not only His presence with us but also His Spirit is in us, dwelling within our spirit.

How can we but obey his commandments for they are not grievous unless our hearts have been drawn away by the attractions of the world?

Though we cannot see Him, he sees us; He is nearer to us than we are to ourselves and it our responsibility to acknowledge as Jacob did, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not."

We sail upon a turbulent and tumultuous sea; but we are embarked on a good foundation and in a good cause. We have an infallible and almighty Pilot, who has the winds and weather at his command, and can silence the storm into calm with a word whenever he pleases.

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We may be persecuted, but we shall not be forsaken; we may be cast down, but we cannot be destroyed. Many will thrust sore at us that we may fall, but the Lord will be our stay. (Newton)

The life of Newton was one that ran the full gamut of experience. His life was bursting of danger, suffering and successes. When he wrote “Amazing Grace” it was his life experience in song. I encourage you to read about his life.

Http://www.anointedlinks.com/amazing_grace.HTML

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

SPOILED CHILDREN

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Having been a spoiled child and knowing most of the tricks to get my way, there was a certain satisfaction in pulling the wool over my parent’s eyes?

However I didn’t want my children to do that to me, and I was determined not to let my kids get away with what I did.

Now admittedly this was hard on them for I restricted their freedom more than I should have.

Strange as it seems my kids survived, and turned out real good.

With my background I could manipulate the truth so it seemed that what I was doing was okay.

This trait carried over into my Christian experience, and at times is an issue I have to deal with. To complicate matters further there is the little matter of self deception waiting in the wings. Having been as good at that as I was, it has been hard to completely put that aside.

For what you might call “Regular Christian living,” it’s not a real big problem, but when you get serious about being effective for GOD, that’s another issue.
Some of these problems are; justifying doing something I know is wrong or unprofitable.

Failing to do what I know I should do; trying to think up a prayer that will impress GOD, and cause him to answer it even if it isn’t his will to do so.

Getting mad at GOD because he doesn’t obey me, even when I use the name of Jesus in my prayer.

Even though I know GOD isn’t going to fall for all these techniques I found useful in the past I am still foolish enough to try.

Now you must not lose sight of the fact that I was a spoiled child. I actually spoiled myself and my parents went along with it.

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever realize that GOD doesn’t have any spoiled kids.

GOD treats his want-a-be spoiled kids like my mother did me. When I would pitch a fit and refuse to hold her teeth marked hand she would walk away and leave me, and it was up to me to whether or not I wanted to be with her and obey her or not.

GOD will not let his love for his children allow them to act unruly, for he will walk on leaving them to sit in their unruly-mess.

When you treat GOD like a servant -- you make a large mistake for he can’t be both a servant and ALMIGHTY GOD to you at the same time.

Genesis 17:1  “I am El-Shaddai -- 'God Almighty.' Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.“
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xPzTSpbYmk&feature=related

LESTERS DEFINITIONS

(or Vanities of Vanities Exposed)

Life; that which is before “not being” and that which is “after being” with little in-between. Death; a process that begins with birth and continues until time runs out.

Work; anything that that interrupts slothfulness.

Religion; a process whereby humans are taught to act like trained seals and serve imaginary deities (save for one)

Atheism; a discipline where no nothings, know nothing and vainly proclaim their empty nothingness.

Politics; an arena where the slime of the earth flourishes and inflicts pain and misery on everyone else. It is further a slave market where people are sold for the benefit of the indolent.

Unions; groups of people (union bosses) who want to control the world by controlling the politicians, meanwhile their members are over paid for the work they do to the disadvantage of others.

CEOs; thieves in $2000 suits that rob the stockholders using laws passed by the politicians they control (see above).

Entertainers; those who try to pacify those who are peons unawares.

Husbands; those who must be restrained by whatever means necessary due to their tendency toward the lack of good sense,

Wife; a woman who thinks she has been unrequited and spends a lifetime trying to prove it.

Homosexuality; a stench in the nostrils of GOD and a prepaid, seat assigned flight ticket to the lake of fire with no peanuts.

Adultery; a rejection of GOD’S commandment with consequences beyond the ability of man’s mind to fathom.

Fornication; a permanent injury to the spirit, a wound to the soul, and a possible pleasure to the body.

Lip service; an act by those who freely give deception, credibility and then substitute it for substance.

Marriage; a divine union between a man and a woman, planned in heaven, started in the garden and seldom discovered by man. Though often imitated, not often enough duplicated.

Divorce; putting to an end something that should have never been.

Children; something that reveals the true inner you by bringing out that which is kept hidden from yourself.

Future; Eccl. 1;9 That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.

Anonymous quotes I thought you would enjoy!

A break up is like a broken mirror. It is better to leave it broken than hurt yourself trying to fix it.

No matter who broke your heart, or how long it takes to heal, you’ll never get through it without your friends.

Sympathy is better than nothing from friends!

Nothing hurts more than realizing he meant everything to you, but you meant nothing to him.

It takes a couple seconds to say Hello, but forever to say Goodbye.

Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it’s better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together. 

Everyone tells me I should forget about you, you don’t deserve me. They’re right, you don’t deserve me, but I deserve you.

When you break up, your whole identity is shattered. You are no longer alive.

I don’t miss him; I miss who I thought he was.

It’s hard to tell your mind to stop loving someone when your heart still does.

I just broke up with someone and the last thing he said to me was, “You’ll never find anyone like me again!” I’m thinking, “I should hope not! If I don’t want you, why would I want someone like you?

Sometimes the person you really need is the one you didn’t think you wanted.

Moving on is simple, it’s what you leave behind that makes it so difficult.

Trying to forget someone you love is like trying to remember someone you never knew.

The pain of having a broken heart is not so much as to kill you, yet not so little as to let you live.

If someone you love hurts you cry a river, build a bridge, and get over it.

Never be sad for what is over, just be glad that it was once yours.

The worst way to love someone is to sit next to them, knowing they don’t love you back.

You don’t realize how much you care about someone until they don’t care about you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R24tPPzX0l8&NR=1
Images on this post are courtesy of Photobucket

THE GOOD LIFE

image courtesy Photo bucket

What is the “Good life?” This question needs further consideration.

Sometimes I will have a thought pop into my mind and if it doesn’t immediately go away I pursue further to see what I think about the subject.

Then I bombard myself with a slew of questions such as; “What is it? Do I have it; if not how do I get it? Do I want it, why?”

If I show further interest, one way to get understanding is to study about how it works and what are the ingredients. 

image courtesy Photo bucket

  Ah yes, science must have the answer, what would that be? First off nobody wants them to say; “We don’t know,” as they can’t afford to say that for their livelihood depends on answers and I don’t know simply doesn’t get it.
 

image courtesy Photobucket

So what do we do? People with money often go to the psychiatrist and do the analyses trick. Many go for years in order to endure their life style. In fact after several years of treatment they can tell people what their problem is and prescribe a cure.

Image courtesy PhotoBucket

What about pharmacology? Some say, “Lets do drugs, get a little high, just enough to get the thrill. Oh yes, this is where it’s at. What I need is some weed, maybe a little hashish. Well that is good but I discover that I need more!”

So off we go to the psychologist and immediately his diagnosis is “You have a disease” (90% of the science in psychology is now based on the “Disease model,” where we can forget about notions such as choice, responsibility, preference, will, character, and the like) but not to worry, it is treatable, not curable but treatable.

Onward and downward, we experience the cyclical merry go round “Treatment with side effects”. If you haven’t experienced “side effects” you haven’t lived (or perhaps you are lucky to be alive).

We mustn’t forget about theories, one very logical theory is if you remove the unhappiness then you will be happy!

Since I can’t afford the expense of psychiatry I turn on the TV. And there I find all of the things that make people happy and as luck will have it they are for sale. Oh happy day!!

This is more like it. I check my credit card and see how much my limit is and how much credit I have left on it or them as the case may be. Now I know how much happiness I can afford.

WWW here I come, my fingers on the keyboard are working their magic. After exhausting my energies, my mind and my bank account, I discover that I am still not happy and I have an empty feeling in my stomach.

Luke 12:15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

A mistake we can make is to think that happiness is the only ingredient in the “Good life.” Yes, it is an important part but there is more.

Image courtesy Photobucket

One writer put it this way “the good life must have a flow,” meaning that life consists of more that giggles and good feelings. There is also the experience of difficult times, the time of winning and the time of losing. The trusting in something bigger than ourselves and not just a philosophy, but is an eternal reality beyond our temporal state.

The good life consists of both the temporal and the eternal and it cannot lack either one and still be good.

The clarion call is loud and clear “John 3:36 He who has faith in the Son has eternal life; but he who has not faith in the Son will not see life;"

The good life is learning to temper hopes and dreams to the reality of the day. Paul faced his life and said; “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

He did not let his circumstances diminish he zest for life and he fulfilled his reason for living.

One thing to keep in mind, the good life is always ahead, and it is yours for the taking. Hang all your sad songs on the willow and move on to the good life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftXe5sApOgk