IT DOESN’T SEEM FAIR!



Life just isn't Fair !!
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 There are many things today that don’t seem fair.  

One of them is hair cuts. Now I don’t have but about one third as much hair as I used to have but I still have to pay full price for the hair cut.

It doesn’t seem fair that the oldest child gets to wear the new clothes and then they are passed down to the younger until the youngest out grows them.

It doesn’t seem fair that the cats get to sleep in the house and the dogs lay out in the cold.

It doesn’t seem fair that the CEO gets millions a year while the janitor who does more work makes a few thousand.

It doesn’t seem fair that my sister married a good looking, rich husband and I…. Well it doesn’t seem fair.

Some say that it isn't fair that GOD will send people to hell just because they revile HIM and reject HIS salvation and do despite to his grace.

Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Maybe some things are not fair and all things are not equal but, it is what it is - - so get on with life, and dust off your relationship with Jesus if needed. 
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Linking today with Messy Mondays with Evatt 
And at the WellSpring with Laura

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HOLY COW!



Holy Cow
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I personally have known several missionaries to India, one of which was killed in a traffic accident while ministering in India.  Early in her ministry she had adopted two throw away very young Indian girls. What a difference Christ meant to them as they grew up to be fine young Christian women. Instead of being left to try to survive on the streets of Bombay they were raised by a loving “Auntie.”

There is no shortage of deities available in that land where by nature the people want something bigger than themselves to worship.

One of the better known Indians was Mohandas Gandhi who was educated in England at the University College London where he studied law. The Cow was venerated by Gandhi He said: "I worship it and I shall defend its worship against the whole world.” The central fact of Hinduism is cow protection. He regarded her better than the earthly mother, and called her "the mother to millions of Indian mankind." It was said as he lay dying they brought a cow into his room where he grasped the tail while he died.

There is a Bhishma saying: "Cows represent sacrifice. Without them, there can be no sacrifice…Cows are guileless in their behavior and from them flow sacrifices of milk and curds and butter. Hence cows are sacred..."

Well to some they are “Holy Cow” but here in America they are steak and hamburger. I don’t feel the need to degrade the Indian people’s beliefs but I have found a better way.

Even the most educated people among us when left to their own devices will look for something to worship whether in a foreign land or here in America. At the same time they will too often reject the one and only true GOD. I suspect that here in America we rival India’s god count. The Indian people say they don’t worship the cow only venerate them which seem like splitting hairs.

Prior to the temple’s destruction the Jews sacrificed certain animals and at times ate them. When Christ came as the lamb of GOD he died the death for all sinners of the world, past, present and future. Instead of being bound to that which can only keep you bound by sin he removes the sin nature and forgives the besetting sins.

The Holy Cow neither has nor can do anything for me but the lamb of GOD accomplished it all.

Where the one has failed the other has prevailed. Where one is dead the other is alive and well in the believer.

I didn’t need the “Holy Cow,” what I needed was the “Holy Lamb of GOD” Jesus Christ.

It is easy to forget to be thankful as we should for what Christ has done for us but just thinking about the gods that other nations worship - - sobers me and stirs me to repent and give GOD the glory HE so richly deserves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iprSm9oyVpM&feature=related

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Linking today with: Michelle, Joan and Deidra

Michelle at Hear it on Sunday

Joan Davis Sharing His Beauty Hop

Deidra’s Sunday Jumptandem

“I” WILL BUILD MY CHURCH

No statement by Christ was ever more succinctly and plainly stated than upon this rock “I” will build my church. While he sent forth those who carry his message nothing is accomplished unless he is the architect and builder.

This is truly hard to keep in focus when the message bearers labor and are successful in building congregations.

The crowds are not acid test for rock stars attract multi thousands to their performances. Let us never forget if Christ does not build it, it is not his church, but merely a crowd making noise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_l1CGzcoGs


Words by Gloria Gaither Music by Dony McGuire

When others see with earthly eyes just what they want to see,
You will see the things that never die.
You will know and recognize by simple, childlike faith
The priceless truth that others will deny.
When others say I’m just a man who liked to dream his dreams,
When others call a miracle a myth,
You’ll listen for eternity in moment as they pass
And see with spirit eyes what others miss.

Upon this Rock I’ll build my Kingdom,
Upon this Rock forever and ever it shall stand.
And all the powers of hell itself
Shall never more prevail against it,
For satan’s thrones are built on sinking sand.
Upon this Rock I’ll build my Kingdom
And on this Rock forever and ever it shall stand.

Upon this Rock of revelation I’ll build a strong and mighty nation
And it shall stand the storms of time upon this Rock.
If in a simple carpenter you see the Son of God,
If you will choose to lose when you could win;
If you will give your life away for nothing in return,
Then you are where My Kingdom will begin.
Upon this Rock I’ll build my Kingdom,
Upon this Rock forever and ever it shall stand.

And all the powers of hell itself
Shall never more prevail against it,
For satan’s thrones are built on sinking sand.
Upon this Rock I’ll build my Kingdom
And on this Rock forever and ever it shall stand.

Upon this Rock of revelation I’ll build a strong and mighty nation
And it shall stand the storms of time upon this Rock.
Upon this Rock of revelation I’ll build a strong and mighty nation
And it shall stand the storms of time upon this Rock.
I’ll build my church upon this Rock.
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, upon this Rock!

This post is linked to: Sundays in My City at:
 http://www.unknownmami.com/2011/12/sundays-in-my-city-125.html

WHEN THE PASTOR IS AWAY

Pastor - courtesy photobucket.com

Regular attendees at church will agree that the pastor needs a break from the stress of the church occasionally. A time of refreshing where new goals and ideas can be evaluated without the daily pressure of people problems.
In a large church where there are many pastors it is easier for him to get away for a vacation but with a small congregation it is more complicated.

My wife and I worked in a church in the Christian education department and ran the book store. Keeping a trained staff of teachers, dealing with book distributors, attending every service, board meeting, running errands, occasionally preaching, hosting visiting ministers, the tape ministry and whatever else that came up, usually kept us busy.

Then comes the time when the pastor goes away you know something is going to happen you don’t want to deal with. Even though the pastor is reachable by phone you feel sheepish about calling him. The situation at hand is no big deal for him for he always deals with these things but there is an extra layer of pressure on you because you have to please him as well as handling the problem.

As predictable when the pastor is gone and someone dies you get a phone call and are expected to handle the whole situation. Call the paper, visit the bereaved, prepare for the service and tell the ladies to prepare a meal after the service and anything else peculiar to this happening.

In one such case the man who died was as mean as a snake to his wife who was a shrinking violet type. I had visited the man before his demise and he was complaining and barking orders right and left. When he passed on I went to the home and everybody was celebrating the fact he was gone. I felt a little strange in this situation for I had come to comfort the bereaved but there were none. The time came for the funeral and everyone just wanted it over with. Instead of goodbye it was good riddance. Searching for something good to say about him wasn’t easy for me. After observing the wife and family, saying its good you're gone seemed apropos although I didn’t say it.

Counseling was an area my wife and I had some training but in our church we weren't called upon to do it often but on this occasion the pastor was gone and a woman didn’t want to wait. I knew her from her attendance at service and set up a meeting at the church. When she arrived and came into the office, there she was very bosomy with a tight t-shirt and short shorts on and very vulnerable. Her husband had lost an arm and was mad at the world. She was getting the worst he had to offer and was looking for comfort.

One look at her was all it took to see she was “hot +.” After catching my breathe I excused myself and went and got my wife to sit in on the session. I explained she was sensitive in these areas and could be helpful. After I calmed down the session went well and she went home somewhat encouraged. Unfortunately the husband got worse to the point she gave up and divorced him, remarried and was much happier.

Well I got through the pastor’s absence this time but was not looking forward to the next time when “the pastor was away.”

This post has been linked to Charlotte’s site. Please visit and enjoy other good words at:

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-back-again.html

This post has also been linked to Sunday Jump. Do visit this lovely site at: http://www.jumptandem.net/2011/12/sunday_10.html

WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN

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What a mouthful, to love a woman truly, a man must not be emotionally promiscuous.

His affectionate eye must be single and not roving in all directions. If he says he loves, and still has a wandering eye - - he has yet to commit to the one he says he loves. It is possible to be married and never truly love your wife because to do so he must love on three levels.

Eros, the romantic, lustful, desiring kind of love is most important in a marriage. It links them together in moments of ecstasy that transcends any other of life’s experiences. Some never reach this plain spiritually for they cannot contain their desire for other persons; seemingly satisfaction is always out of their reach for their life is a life of un-fulfillment.

Such a one’s love life is much like the missing finale of Franz Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony. Surely there is something there but it remains incomplete. Solomon was something like that because he never reached the point where he truly loved a woman. He could write sweet sayings to them but they were just sweet lies while thinking of and moving on to the next one.

The Christian marriage is a three party arraignment, the third party being GOD. Covenant vows are made to each other and to GOD and should never be broken.

Mark.10:6-9 At the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

This is more than divorce for it includes unfaithfulness. The one flesh relationship in Genesis 2 is beyond the scope of this writing but the statement found in “Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed,” speaks of an openness where nothing is hidden.

Things that have to be hidden are like stated in Solomon 2:15 Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!

Those little things can turn a marriage sour and bitterness sets in. Once true love is found it must be guarded and nurtured. It takes a two party effort.

Phileo love is affection, tenderness and friendship. This is a must for a happy union. It is in the realm of “Do no harm” where trust is a given and ever present.

Agape love is the love that comes from the reborn spirit toward all mankind especially one’s wife, kids and family, for they are not always easy to love.

I suppose I have laid out what could be called the ideal and perhaps we may fall below this level. Sometime there are false starts, sometimes people just play house but never stop striving for GOD’S plan for marriage.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8raabzZNqw

 

This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.”

CARL THE TRUTH

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Carl Williams was a proud boxer that tried to intimidate opponents with his bravado. He fought the best fighters at the time and his record was 30 victories and 10 losses with 1 no contest. He lost a bout with Mike Tyson by a TKO; he never landed an official blow before the match was stopped.

It would seem that Carl was only 75% truth for he lost one fourth of his fights. I admit that this better than the truth in politics for we only get about 25% truth from them.

There is another issue with the truth which is “Opinion truth.” Its not absolute truth but truth modified by opinion which has been shaped by personal desires. This is what college students receive from some professors of philosophy especially.

We would like to think that science would be a bastion of truth but experience has taught us that science is a work in progress and subject to change.

True love and friendship, ah yes but how dependable it that?

We have come to use what may be called “Barely get by truth” which works well enough for me; it gets me by in daily life.

And then we come to the Gospel! Surly here we find the truth! Well that depends on whether it is that which was delivered at the beginning or a revised version of it.

Jude 1:3-4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.

Today I believe there are men of the same cloth, the same divisiveness teaching only part of the truth mixed with error.

This places the burden upon you and I to search the scriptures for ourselves to see if what we are hearing measures up to THE TRUTH of GOD.

Luke 8:18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.” You can lose what you have by believing someone’s half lie.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence, The mind from vanity, the understanding from error, the will from perverseness, the conscience clear of guilt, the affections from being inordinate and set on evil objects.” (Gill)

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N_21z_kEA8&feature=related

This post has been linked to Joan’s “Grace Café.” Do visit there for other good words!
http://www.reflectionsofhisgrace.com/2011/12/rahab-recognized-for-her-faith/

Also linked to Thought Provoking Thursday, please visit there at:
http://somegirlswebsite.com/showing-love/2011/12/gifts-that-will-be-remembered/

FAMILIARITY

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“Familiarity breeds contempt. How accurate that is. The reason we hold truth in such respect is because we have so little opportunity to get familiar with it” - Mark Twain

Familiarity breeds contempt is an idiom that has caused intellectuals to spend many hours in contemplation the result of which has added to and taken from the original intent.

The first thing to consider is “does it make sense? Mel Schwartz says “Perhaps we'd be better off saying mediocrity or unhappiness breeds contempt.” Perhaps it is unrequited “Me first” demands that are the culprit.

This quote can be applied to many scenarios anywhere from courtship to business relationships. My purpose is to digest this as applied to our relationship with GOD.

I myself being the guinea pig I start at the beginning before I received “The new creation experience.” Being in a “lost” condition I tried to compensate by doing some of the things my fellow travelers did to block out this inner misery.

Then came the day when I found what my soul desired which was a right relationship with GOD. I was awe struck by what had happened to me but over the years the memory of being lost and the feeling associated with it faded away.

When my spiritual life became my norm the excitement wore off and the temptation to enter the “ho-hum” stage was at hand.

In marriage a similar thing can happen where you become so used to one another you hardly acknowledge each other’s presence. At this time you are a victim of negative familiarity and at best it allows passivity to set in. The answer to this is to always see value in the other party and act accordingly. It may be time to experience new things together.

Fortunately our spiritual life is designed to be new every day and exude life more abundantly. This is “positive familiarity,” and is promoted by daily prayer and worship that expects things to happen. By reading and studying GOD’S word and letting it speak to you will inject a newness and excitement into your spiritual life and exuberance that will be a refreshing of your soul.

We need to understand there is no excuse for “ho-hum” in the Christian walk for there are too many battles to be fought and victories to be won.

C’mon lets get all excited!  Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6SNRtTGZTQ

Linking up with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday. Please visit and view other great words: http://mydailywalkinhisgrace.blogspot.com/2011/12/winsome-wednesday-gods-favour.html

Also linked with Joan Davis Sharing His Beauty.  Please visit and enjoy the shared posts.
http://www.thebeautyinhisgrip.com/2011/12/unwrapping-gifts-of-advent-gift-of.html