Well it's "Black Friday" and most Americans were shopping today (except me lol). I looked online for a few deals I wanted but they were gone before I could even click on them to purchase! I saw so many deals for my daughter and photo printers for $10 that I felt that uneasy feeling in my stomach, that I refer to as the monster.
"What do you mean monster?" you may be saying. The monster of wanting to put things on a credit card. The "oh I will pay it off later.......this is just too good of a deal to pass up right now!" The one that subjects you to the chains of debt. However thank the Lord the words rang through my mind of lessons learned in recent years.....If you can't afford it, don't buy it!
How many people today whipped out the plastic? How many got drunk with consumerism today? I looked on a few news websites today to see what I expected to see: people getting into fights over deals, shoving each other, mass crowds lined up for hours to buy buy BUY!!!!! I gotta have it! I gotta get it! GIVE ME GIVE ME!
One of the saddest pictures I saw of this whole ordeal today was one of a small toddler asleep and slung over his mother's arm while she shopped and shopped and shopped, all the while ignoring the fact that her baby could use a nice bed! Chances are she woke him early from his bed to start the spending spree, caring for who?? Herself? The deals? Surely not her child.......
Well I will "try" and step off my soapbox now. I refuse to give into the mad rush of buying, most doing it on credit cards and piling up debt and pulling the chains of their slavery even tighter. Charge it!
My question is, What Would Jesus Do? Could you really see Jesus rushing into a store pushing others in a mad frenzy to get a deal? Nah, I didn't think so either. Can you hear Jesus saying "Charge it!?"
FYI: Mastercard reported their customers alone were spending 20 BILLION dollars TODAY!! Guess who is happy today? Can you say MASTER CARD?? =0 As Pastor Davis said in one of his classes: You are stupid if you pay interest! There is a lot of stupid people huh?
I saw a picture of 1 guy paying with CASH! It was so odd that they videoed it and put it on a clip online HA!!!!! I say for that guy YOU GO!! Way to only buy something you CAN AFFORD! ; )
"Oh wait....how are we going to afford to pay for all this stuff we put on the credit card today dear?" "Why honey, you can just get a job and put the kids in daycare.....!" "What a great idea, let someone else raise my kids so I can go work to have MORE STUFF!"
Points in Favor
I had read the following true story right before church tonight, I actually had been reading a lot on anger (don't ask lol)....from books to online articles and came across this and I saved it. When Pastor preached tonight, he talked for a while about anger and then this came back to my mind!
Points in Favor
When John D. Rockefeller ran the Standard Oil Company, one of his senior executives made a mistake which cost them over $2 million. Most of the other executives thought Rockefeller would come down on him 'like a ton of bricks.' But, they were wrong! Before he called the man in, he sat down, took a notepad and wrote across the top of it - points in favor of this man! Then he listed the man's virtues, including how he'd helped the company make the right decision on other occasions and earned them millions in profits.
One of the senior executives who witnessed it, later said, "Whenever I'm tempted to 'rip into' someone, I force myself first to sit down to compile a list of the good qualities they have. By the time I've finished, I have the right perspective and best of all, my anger is under control. I can't tell you how many times this habit has prevented me from committing one of life's costliest of mistakes - losing my temper! I recommend it to anyone who must deal with people."
Author Unknown
Points in Favor
When John D. Rockefeller ran the Standard Oil Company, one of his senior executives made a mistake which cost them over $2 million. Most of the other executives thought Rockefeller would come down on him 'like a ton of bricks.' But, they were wrong! Before he called the man in, he sat down, took a notepad and wrote across the top of it - points in favor of this man! Then he listed the man's virtues, including how he'd helped the company make the right decision on other occasions and earned them millions in profits.
One of the senior executives who witnessed it, later said, "Whenever I'm tempted to 'rip into' someone, I force myself first to sit down to compile a list of the good qualities they have. By the time I've finished, I have the right perspective and best of all, my anger is under control. I can't tell you how many times this habit has prevented me from committing one of life's costliest of mistakes - losing my temper! I recommend it to anyone who must deal with people."
Author Unknown
Character Counts
People are often unreasonable,
Illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
You will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
People may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
Someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
They may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
People will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
And it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
It is between you and God;
It never was between you and them anyway.
Mother Theresa
Illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
You will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
People may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
Someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
They may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
People will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
And it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
It is between you and God;
It never was between you and them anyway.
Mother Theresa
I AM My Brother's Keeper
I came across a great post, well actually 2 great posts, on a blog a week or so ago and I even shared it with my husband. Then in church, a preacher recently spoke on this topic, mentioning we should carry our brother when he needs help! It was then that this post came back to my mind: I AM my Brother's Keeper! I asked the lady for permission to share it here on my blog and she said that would be fine.
I AM MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
Cain got it all wrong.See, the thing is, God CREATED us to live in community and fellowship with one another. How do I know this? Because the first "not good" in the Bible is for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Even before sin entered the world, something was missing when it was just Adam and God. Even in a perfect world, Adam needed human companionship. He was created to live in community with other people. If in a world without sin, things were still "not good" until fellowship was established, how much more "not good" is it now when we try to live completely independent lives from each other?
The Bible tells us that Christians, collectively, are the body of Christ. I don't know about you, but my body is interdependent. What happens to one part of my body affects the rest of my body. If I have a splitting headache, no matter how great the rest of my body feels, my entire body is going to be taking it easy on the couch. If my right hand gets slammed in a door, then my left hand has to pick up the slack until my right hand is better. If that's the way that the human body works, shouldn't that also be the same way that the body of Christ works?
I need people, and people need me. I do not only a disservice to myself, but also to others when I act like I can do life on my own. I can't. I wasn't CREATED to do life on my own.
LIVING IN COMMUNITY
Still don't think that you need other people? Well, even Jesus needed others. Remember His disciples? You could think of them as the original "small group." If God Himself, while He was walking around this Earth needed others, how much more do YOU?
As a Christian, you are interconnected with all other Christians. You were created to work WITH others. Your life is at it's BEST when you work with others.
God created us to share our lives with others.
Ecclesiastes 4:8-12
Our lives become meangingless when we don't live in community with others.
I AM MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
Cain got it all wrong.See, the thing is, God CREATED us to live in community and fellowship with one another. How do I know this? Because the first "not good" in the Bible is for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Even before sin entered the world, something was missing when it was just Adam and God. Even in a perfect world, Adam needed human companionship. He was created to live in community with other people. If in a world without sin, things were still "not good" until fellowship was established, how much more "not good" is it now when we try to live completely independent lives from each other?
The Bible tells us that Christians, collectively, are the body of Christ. I don't know about you, but my body is interdependent. What happens to one part of my body affects the rest of my body. If I have a splitting headache, no matter how great the rest of my body feels, my entire body is going to be taking it easy on the couch. If my right hand gets slammed in a door, then my left hand has to pick up the slack until my right hand is better. If that's the way that the human body works, shouldn't that also be the same way that the body of Christ works?
I need people, and people need me. I do not only a disservice to myself, but also to others when I act like I can do life on my own. I can't. I wasn't CREATED to do life on my own.
LIVING IN COMMUNITY
Still don't think that you need other people? Well, even Jesus needed others. Remember His disciples? You could think of them as the original "small group." If God Himself, while He was walking around this Earth needed others, how much more do YOU?
As a Christian, you are interconnected with all other Christians. You were created to work WITH others. Your life is at it's BEST when you work with others.
God created us to share our lives with others.
Ecclesiastes 4:8-12
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Our lives become meangingless when we don't live in community with others.
- The author of this is Hubbadah, not sure on her real name but that is her blogger name. I just wanted to share this great post with my readers, hope you enjoyed it and how true it is!
Entangled
Galatians 5:1
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
2 Peter 2:20
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning."
Entangled:
1. to have within, to hold in
a. to be held, entangled, be held ensnared
b. to be engaged with, set one's self against, hold a grudge against someone
1. to inweave
2. of a thing: to entangle, involve in
What holds you and ensnares you? Is something inweaving itself into your life and polluting your holiness before the Lord? This was the just of the message and it hit home with me.
There were some things in my life that God had been dealing with me about to get rid of. I kept pushing it away, saying "Well what is wrong with it?" All the time I knew exactly what harm it WAS doing to me and how it was starting to entangle me. So guess what I did? I got rid of what was entangling me and trying to ensnare me!
Pastor Davis commented that if this church wasn't going to be a holiness church then we should just burn it down. So true....its high time to live holy and not let the pollutions of the world set in.
2 Corinthians 6:17
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"
Separate:
1. to mark off from others by boundaries, to limit, to separate
a. in a bad sense: to exclude as disreputable
b. in a good sense: to appoint, set apart for some purpose
What are you waiting for? Separate yourselves and don't let things entangle you. Quit having talks with the devil about "What is so bad about it" You know exactly what it can do......
Some humor
Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter, ten men and one woman.
The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one had to leave, because otherwise they were all going to fall.
They weren't able to name that person, until the woman gave a very touching speech.
She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because, as a woman, she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids, or for men in general, and was used to always making sacrifices with little in return.
As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping their hands...
The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one had to leave, because otherwise they were all going to fall.
They weren't able to name that person, until the woman gave a very touching speech.
She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because, as a woman, she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids, or for men in general, and was used to always making sacrifices with little in return.
As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping their hands...
Spectators
What is a spectator?
1 : one who looks on or watches
There are so many people that look on and just watch. As Pastor Davis put it, they sit on the sidelines telling others what to do and what not to do but never getting in the game themselves! Sound familiar?
I did not want to be a spectator in my life for God, so I took a stand......I'm not ashamed of God's church or my leaders or my beliefs! Are you?
Mark 8:38
Romans 10:11
Notice, the Bible doesn't say "let the redeemed of the Lord be spectators"......its says "LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO!"
Psalm 107:2
How about that neighbor that doesn't know God that you see day in and day out. Have you shared with them the glorious news of the Gospel? Or are you ashamed at what they might "think" of you?
You make time for the things you think are important. Why are people always waiting on someone else to do it? Let's not wait on another.....arise to do whatever God has called you to do......leave the crowd of spectators! Take a stand and ARISE for God!
There are spectators in so many things. People that just sit there and do nothing but watch! It's easy to just sit and watch the game ......but I want to be in the game!
1 : one who looks on or watches
There are so many people that look on and just watch. As Pastor Davis put it, they sit on the sidelines telling others what to do and what not to do but never getting in the game themselves! Sound familiar?
I did not want to be a spectator in my life for God, so I took a stand......I'm not ashamed of God's church or my leaders or my beliefs! Are you?
Mark 8:38
"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Romans 10:11
"For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
Notice, the Bible doesn't say "let the redeemed of the Lord be spectators"......its says "LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO!"
Psalm 107:2
"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;"
How about that neighbor that doesn't know God that you see day in and day out. Have you shared with them the glorious news of the Gospel? Or are you ashamed at what they might "think" of you?
You make time for the things you think are important. Why are people always waiting on someone else to do it? Let's not wait on another.....arise to do whatever God has called you to do......leave the crowd of spectators! Take a stand and ARISE for God!
There are spectators in so many things. People that just sit there and do nothing but watch! It's easy to just sit and watch the game ......but I want to be in the game!
The Accuser of the Brethren
The religious hypocrites were always looking for a way to get rid of Jesus. They constantly searched for faults, so they could bring accusations against him. Their agendas were very clear......they wanted to do away with Jesus. We know that satan is the accuser of the brethren.
Mark 3:2
Luke 11:54
The Bible tells us to not marvel if the world hates us. We know that a Christian loves, forgives and does not hate or keep bitterness in their heart against another. So why is it that some are feeding their fires of bitterness by constant slander against Godly men and women? If they are truly of God, should not they love, forgive and have no bitterness in their hearts?
It is plain by their works, who they are of, it is not of God. It is plain to see whose bidding they are doing. satan is the one who works on tearing down the work of God. satan is the one behind agendas set to defame Godly men and women. satan is behind the constant searching for accusations and yet another defamatory script to write.
Why would people want to rail against God's men and women and his church?
1 John 3:12
It was jealousy, envy, and hate that did it back then and it is the same today. Let's look at the persecution of the Godly a bit more:
Psalm 37:12-15
2 Timothy 3:12
The wicked:
All that live Godly.....will suffer persecution, we learn in 2 Timothy. He did not say some, he said ALL and SHALL. If you are living Godly you will suffer persecution. It is not something strange, it is common for the Christian.
The wicked will always try and destroy those who have good character, walk upright and live for God. You have these haters of all things Godly bursting out at the mouth in pure slander and hatred for others. Do not they have to love to make it to Heaven??
1 John 4:20-21
Thanks be unto God that we can come away from all that. God can forgive! We can let the blood of Jesus cleanse us from our wicked ways and love one another! We can have good works and leave the evil works behind!
Mark 3:2
"And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him."
Luke 11:54
"Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him."
The Bible tells us to not marvel if the world hates us. We know that a Christian loves, forgives and does not hate or keep bitterness in their heart against another. So why is it that some are feeding their fires of bitterness by constant slander against Godly men and women? If they are truly of God, should not they love, forgive and have no bitterness in their hearts?
It is plain by their works, who they are of, it is not of God. It is plain to see whose bidding they are doing. satan is the one who works on tearing down the work of God. satan is the one behind agendas set to defame Godly men and women. satan is behind the constant searching for accusations and yet another defamatory script to write.
Why would people want to rail against God's men and women and his church?
1 John 3:12
"Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."
It was jealousy, envy, and hate that did it back then and it is the same today. Let's look at the persecution of the Godly a bit more:
Psalm 37:12-15
"12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken."
2 Timothy 3:12
"12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
The wicked:
- Plot against the just
- Gnash on them with their teeth
- Slay those with an upright conversation
All that live Godly.....will suffer persecution, we learn in 2 Timothy. He did not say some, he said ALL and SHALL. If you are living Godly you will suffer persecution. It is not something strange, it is common for the Christian.
The wicked will always try and destroy those who have good character, walk upright and live for God. You have these haters of all things Godly bursting out at the mouth in pure slander and hatred for others. Do not they have to love to make it to Heaven??
1 John 4:20-21
"20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
Thanks be unto God that we can come away from all that. God can forgive! We can let the blood of Jesus cleanse us from our wicked ways and love one another! We can have good works and leave the evil works behind!
Blurring the Lines
**I stopped posting things as this post you are about to read because my blog readership had gone up and I didn't want to run people off.....but I realized that I can't be like that. I shouldn't "blog to please" if you will. Rather, I will stand for God and his word and not back down to anyone and thus......here is this post and it is not up for debate.
This topic has been on my mind for quite some time and isn't anything new especially to the USA, it is the blurring of the lines in today's society. Why the fuss over beliefs that women should look like women and men should like men? Why do others get upset that a woman wants to wear a dress and have long hair and be as FAR AWAY from looking like a man as she can be? And vice versa. Why the uproar? Why the stir? Why do SOME want to blur the lines and say it is ok? Why does a women want to put on pants and cut her hair? Is she wanting to look like a man?
Not only that but they twist the scriptures to fit themselves. God said it is an abomination for the woman to wear that which pertains to a man and vice versa. Also we all know that God put in the Bible the issue of HAIR and so it must be important enough if he included it in his word. ALL THOSE THAT LOVE GOD WILL obey his word! As soon as I saw it was in the Bible I had no qualms with obeying it. God said it, so be it, I'm doing it!
I feel FEMININE in a dress/skirt. I feel FEMININE with my long (uncut) hair and God said IT IS MY GLORY. Why would a woman want to cut off what God said was a glory AND a sign of submission to her husband? Simple.....she is rebellious and not submissive to not only her husband but to God.
We should want to be as close to visibly resembling our gender as we could be. Why would you want to be straddling the lines?
Society, the world, wants to "Blur the Lines." Aren't we supposed to not be like the world? Aren't we supposed to want to be ye separate? Why are some wanting to blend in with the world today? Simple, their heart is NOT right.
They see a woman with long hair and a dress and modest and go off saying don't push your religion on me. But the woman didn't say a word to them. What is that? That is called the God in that woman convicting them without even having to speak. She resembles FEMINITY by just her appearance. Or better yet, they use the "holier than thou" verbage to the person who convicts them to comfort their disobedience.
A real masculine man will desire a real feminine woman and vice versa. It is simple......so very simple. If you are a man and you desire your woman to look like a man, well you have issues and VICE VERSA! EEK...........no thanks I will continue to NOT be mistaken for a man, I have never, since wearing dresses been mistaken for a man but I have mistaken women for men because they had pants and I have mistaken some men for women because they had long hair. I have come up behind some and said Excuse me Sir, and SHE turns around and I'm like OOPS!
Wouldn't you shiver inside to think somebody had mistaken you for the opposite sex? Wouldn't that send some kind of DING DING to your mind? ***DING DING METER IS GOING OFF.......ANYBODY HOME??*** Wouldn't that make you want to look like your gender?
So here is a call to be ye seperate and God commands in his word! This isn't a choice or a religion.....this is God's holy word and if we have a problem with it we need to pray! God established the lines and it is satan who constantly strives to blur them.
Now the issue of hair.....
1 Corinthians 11:5-6
It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure out that women are to be covered. If a woman has her head uncovered it is JUST THE SAME as if she had a shaved head! It is shameful for a woman to have her head uncovered.
So, what is her covering? Well did you see the word "veil" at all in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 11 class? NO. Ok class, so what word did you see many times in 1 Corinthians 11? HAIR! Let's read this verse and see what God said was a woman's covering:
1 Corinthians 11:15
It says HER HAIR is given her for a COVERING. So class, what was given her for a covering? Her hair! It is to be long, uncut hair. If she cuts it, its as shameful as being shaven. She is to not cut her hair.......again class, what is a glory to a woman? Her LONG hair. Well what about black women and some other ethnic backgrounds? Their hair sometimes will not grow past their shoulders. It is not the length as long, it is the uncut hair. So the word Long means letting hair grow naturally, uncut to whatever length it naturally grows. Why would you cut off your glory anyway??? I don't want to cut off what my God tells me is my glory......if he likes it, so do I LOL.
It is so simple. God made the Bible so simple, yet some want to make it hard. They want to throw veil in there........they want to say a woman can cut her hair as long as it is past her shoulders or long in length........so do tell, what does a woman who can't grow her hair past her shoulders do then according to that view? God isn't prejudice! We have cut, shaven and uncut hair talked about in 1 Corinthians. The only one God said was right is UNCUT! "KISS: Keep It Simple Sister!" ; )
Then you have some that say you don't have to follow this part in the Bible that is in the NEW TESTAMENT. Hmmm........let's see here. God wrote the Bible. It is all inspired. He put this in there because he thought it was important. God doesn't waste words! If you don't follow these verses, you are in disobedience to God's word. Sin is disobedience to God..........you sin when you cut your hair if you are a woman! I haven't even got off on men, but most people have no problem with men keeping their hair short. Nature even tells us it is shame for a man to have long hair like a woman!!! EWWW........I want my man looking like a man thank you very much!! Oh by the way, he wants me looking like a woman. And evidently......God does too.
This topic has been on my mind for quite some time and isn't anything new especially to the USA, it is the blurring of the lines in today's society. Why the fuss over beliefs that women should look like women and men should like men? Why do others get upset that a woman wants to wear a dress and have long hair and be as FAR AWAY from looking like a man as she can be? And vice versa. Why the uproar? Why the stir? Why do SOME want to blur the lines and say it is ok? Why does a women want to put on pants and cut her hair? Is she wanting to look like a man?
Not only that but they twist the scriptures to fit themselves. God said it is an abomination for the woman to wear that which pertains to a man and vice versa. Also we all know that God put in the Bible the issue of HAIR and so it must be important enough if he included it in his word. ALL THOSE THAT LOVE GOD WILL obey his word! As soon as I saw it was in the Bible I had no qualms with obeying it. God said it, so be it, I'm doing it!
I feel FEMININE in a dress/skirt. I feel FEMININE with my long (uncut) hair and God said IT IS MY GLORY. Why would a woman want to cut off what God said was a glory AND a sign of submission to her husband? Simple.....she is rebellious and not submissive to not only her husband but to God.
We should want to be as close to visibly resembling our gender as we could be. Why would you want to be straddling the lines?
Society, the world, wants to "Blur the Lines." Aren't we supposed to not be like the world? Aren't we supposed to want to be ye separate? Why are some wanting to blend in with the world today? Simple, their heart is NOT right.
They see a woman with long hair and a dress and modest and go off saying don't push your religion on me. But the woman didn't say a word to them. What is that? That is called the God in that woman convicting them without even having to speak. She resembles FEMINITY by just her appearance. Or better yet, they use the "holier than thou" verbage to the person who convicts them to comfort their disobedience.
A real masculine man will desire a real feminine woman and vice versa. It is simple......so very simple. If you are a man and you desire your woman to look like a man, well you have issues and VICE VERSA! EEK...........no thanks I will continue to NOT be mistaken for a man, I have never, since wearing dresses been mistaken for a man but I have mistaken women for men because they had pants and I have mistaken some men for women because they had long hair. I have come up behind some and said Excuse me Sir, and SHE turns around and I'm like OOPS!
Wouldn't you shiver inside to think somebody had mistaken you for the opposite sex? Wouldn't that send some kind of DING DING to your mind? ***DING DING METER IS GOING OFF.......ANYBODY HOME??*** Wouldn't that make you want to look like your gender?
So here is a call to be ye seperate and God commands in his word! This isn't a choice or a religion.....this is God's holy word and if we have a problem with it we need to pray! God established the lines and it is satan who constantly strives to blur them.
Now the issue of hair.....
1 Corinthians 11:5-6
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure out that women are to be covered. If a woman has her head uncovered it is JUST THE SAME as if she had a shaved head! It is shameful for a woman to have her head uncovered.
So, what is her covering? Well did you see the word "veil" at all in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 11 class? NO. Ok class, so what word did you see many times in 1 Corinthians 11? HAIR! Let's read this verse and see what God said was a woman's covering:
1 Corinthians 11:15
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
It says HER HAIR is given her for a COVERING. So class, what was given her for a covering? Her hair! It is to be long, uncut hair. If she cuts it, its as shameful as being shaven. She is to not cut her hair.......again class, what is a glory to a woman? Her LONG hair. Well what about black women and some other ethnic backgrounds? Their hair sometimes will not grow past their shoulders. It is not the length as long, it is the uncut hair. So the word Long means letting hair grow naturally, uncut to whatever length it naturally grows. Why would you cut off your glory anyway??? I don't want to cut off what my God tells me is my glory......if he likes it, so do I LOL.
It is so simple. God made the Bible so simple, yet some want to make it hard. They want to throw veil in there........they want to say a woman can cut her hair as long as it is past her shoulders or long in length........so do tell, what does a woman who can't grow her hair past her shoulders do then according to that view? God isn't prejudice! We have cut, shaven and uncut hair talked about in 1 Corinthians. The only one God said was right is UNCUT! "KISS: Keep It Simple Sister!" ; )
Then you have some that say you don't have to follow this part in the Bible that is in the NEW TESTAMENT. Hmmm........let's see here. God wrote the Bible. It is all inspired. He put this in there because he thought it was important. God doesn't waste words! If you don't follow these verses, you are in disobedience to God's word. Sin is disobedience to God..........you sin when you cut your hair if you are a woman! I haven't even got off on men, but most people have no problem with men keeping their hair short. Nature even tells us it is shame for a man to have long hair like a woman!!! EWWW........I want my man looking like a man thank you very much!! Oh by the way, he wants me looking like a woman. And evidently......God does too.
Keep it Real!
Real
What we have is real, it is not something made up, it is not something artificial or an illusion. IT IS GENUINE! It is an actual thing.
You know when the word of God is preached at our churches the Holy Spirit confirms it so. Right is right and wrong is still wrong. Holiness is still right! Sin is still wrong!
God made it plain in his word that it is real. He has made it plain to us but sometimes we have a "pepsi with the devil" and he will confuse and cloud our minds. If we continue to let him do that and keep sipping with him, pretty soon our mind will be so clouded we can't think right. Then you start to hear the word of God preached and God once again clears our minds and we see correctly again.
One of the tactics of the enemy is confusion. I've experienced it personally. So how did I overcome the confusion? Well I realized.......what I had was real, God is real and even the enemy, satan is real and he wants to destroy me. He doesn't want me to be strong in God. He wants me to be movable, double minded, unstable.......swayed to and fro and left to right, up and down. Well I have news for him..........He ain't got me! With the Lord's help and grace I will continue on fighting and trying and working towards being grounded in God.
God isn't the author of confusion, so it is satan who confuses. If he can get your mind all confused and clouded to where you can't even pray then he has got a foothold on you. But thanks be unto God we can cry out and ask God to help us and God will clear our minds. Then we can see clearly.
Sisters, we know it is real. We have experienced God and isn't it great to have a church that preaches the truth? That doesn't back down? That doesn't compromise? Do we even thank God enough that there is a church that will not cower to the enemy? I thank God for the church of the living God and all it stands for. May we ever stay real and as a church pure and holy.
As the saying goes "Keep it Real!"
- not artificial, fraudulent, or illusory : GENUINE
- b (1) : occurring or existing in actuality
What we have is real, it is not something made up, it is not something artificial or an illusion. IT IS GENUINE! It is an actual thing.
You know when the word of God is preached at our churches the Holy Spirit confirms it so. Right is right and wrong is still wrong. Holiness is still right! Sin is still wrong!
God made it plain in his word that it is real. He has made it plain to us but sometimes we have a "pepsi with the devil" and he will confuse and cloud our minds. If we continue to let him do that and keep sipping with him, pretty soon our mind will be so clouded we can't think right. Then you start to hear the word of God preached and God once again clears our minds and we see correctly again.
One of the tactics of the enemy is confusion. I've experienced it personally. So how did I overcome the confusion? Well I realized.......what I had was real, God is real and even the enemy, satan is real and he wants to destroy me. He doesn't want me to be strong in God. He wants me to be movable, double minded, unstable.......swayed to and fro and left to right, up and down. Well I have news for him..........He ain't got me! With the Lord's help and grace I will continue on fighting and trying and working towards being grounded in God.
God isn't the author of confusion, so it is satan who confuses. If he can get your mind all confused and clouded to where you can't even pray then he has got a foothold on you. But thanks be unto God we can cry out and ask God to help us and God will clear our minds. Then we can see clearly.
Sisters, we know it is real. We have experienced God and isn't it great to have a church that preaches the truth? That doesn't back down? That doesn't compromise? Do we even thank God enough that there is a church that will not cower to the enemy? I thank God for the church of the living God and all it stands for. May we ever stay real and as a church pure and holy.
As the saying goes "Keep it Real!"
Don't Quit!
When things go wrong as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Edgar A. Guest
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Edgar A. Guest
Fear; A Tactic of the Enemy
Pastor preached Sunday night about holding fast and he also preached last Thursday night using the story of David and Goliath. He used the illustration of this well known Bible story and how David came to fight and said (1 Samuel 17:29)
David knew there was a cause and that God was going with him and this Giant would fall! I got to thinking more about this Bible story and re-read it yesterday. Isn't just like the devil to taunt? To try and make you fear him, as this giant was doing. Notice what the Giant said to them (1 Samuel 17:10)
In response to this, did God's people say "Ok God is with us, we will fight against you for we trust God!" Oh no.....they were afraid. (1 Samuel 17:11)
Here they are shaking in their boots with fear......doing just what the enemy was trying to get them to do; FEAR! This is one of satan's tactics and seemingly it was working very well until David came into the picture. Here comes this shepherd boy........Goliath after seeing David, was insulted that this "youth" was the one sent out to fight with him. He taunts him going on about how he will (1 Samuel 17:44)
Then notice David's BOLD proclamation to the enemies' taunts and fear tactics (1 Samuel 17:45-47)
Then David RUNS to this Giant and with a sling and a stone he is knocked down and dead. David wasn't afraid of the enemy, he knew God and that God would fight this battle and win!
Oh how many times have we, who proudly proclaim we are a Christian and wave the banner, become afraid and let the enemies' taunts cause fear to enter our minds? Who will be a David? Is there not a cause? Don't back down to the enemy, be bold and arise and fight! God didn't save you for you to be in fear of what satan might do to you. Who is stronger? Is satan stronger than God? NO, so quit acting like he is! NOTHING is impossible with God......let us not have a heart of unbelief, but rather HOLD FAST to the faith and STAND!
So the next time your Giant comes to taunt you and make you fear......instead of responding as he would wish, how about BOLDLY proclaiming your faith and telling satan to back down in the name of Jesus!
Romans 8:31
What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
David knew there was a cause and that God was going with him and this Giant would fall! I got to thinking more about this Bible story and re-read it yesterday. Isn't just like the devil to taunt? To try and make you fear him, as this giant was doing. Notice what the Giant said to them (1 Samuel 17:10)
I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
In response to this, did God's people say "Ok God is with us, we will fight against you for we trust God!" Oh no.....they were afraid. (1 Samuel 17:11)
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Here they are shaking in their boots with fear......doing just what the enemy was trying to get them to do; FEAR! This is one of satan's tactics and seemingly it was working very well until David came into the picture. Here comes this shepherd boy........Goliath after seeing David, was insulted that this "youth" was the one sent out to fight with him. He taunts him going on about how he will (1 Samuel 17:44)
.....give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
Then notice David's BOLD proclamation to the enemies' taunts and fear tactics (1 Samuel 17:45-47)
45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
Then David RUNS to this Giant and with a sling and a stone he is knocked down and dead. David wasn't afraid of the enemy, he knew God and that God would fight this battle and win!
Oh how many times have we, who proudly proclaim we are a Christian and wave the banner, become afraid and let the enemies' taunts cause fear to enter our minds? Who will be a David? Is there not a cause? Don't back down to the enemy, be bold and arise and fight! God didn't save you for you to be in fear of what satan might do to you. Who is stronger? Is satan stronger than God? NO, so quit acting like he is! NOTHING is impossible with God......let us not have a heart of unbelief, but rather HOLD FAST to the faith and STAND!
So the next time your Giant comes to taunt you and make you fear......instead of responding as he would wish, how about BOLDLY proclaiming your faith and telling satan to back down in the name of Jesus!
Romans 8:31
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Is Anger Always Sinful?
The Lord has built into man the emotional capacity to BE ANGRY, and this powerful emotion was originally meant to be helpful and not harmful. Anger can be a proper and useful emotion! Yes, there is such a thing as a HEALTHY, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS ANGER (sometimes called "righteous indignation").
1) God is angry.
(Psalm 7:11). God is always and ever angry against sin!
2) The Lord Jesus is sometimes angry.
Consider the following passages and discuss why the Lord Jesus was angry:
3) The Holy Spirit sometimes causes men to be angry (1 Samuel 11:6).
4) God commands the believer to "BE _________________" (Ephesians 4:26).
Caution: The Lord knows that with frail men righteous anger can easily become sinful anger, so He adds the words, "and _______ not" (Eph. 4:26). It’s easy for us to get angry at the wrong things or to get angry at the right things for the wrong reasons! If your sinful anger has harmed someone else, don’t go to bed until you have corrected the problem in God’s way (prior to the age of electric lights people used to go to bed when the sun went down!).
As you consider the following people and their anger, decide whether their anger was SINFUL (indicate by "S") or RIGHTEOUS (indicate by "R"):
1.______Cain (Genesis 4:5-6).
2.______Esau (Genesis 27:41-45).
3.______Moses (Exodus 16:20; 32:19 Leviticus 10:16-17).
4.______Moses (Numbers 20:7-13; compare Numbers 27:12-14; Deut. 1:37; Psalm 106:33).
5.______Balak (Numbers 24:10).
6.______Saul (1 Samuel 11:6).
7.______Saul (1 Samuel 20:30).
8.______David (1 Samuel 17:26, 45-46).
9.______David (2 Samuel 12:5; note: David was right in getting angry at the sin of this man, but who should he really have been angry at?).
10.______Elisha (2 Kings 13:19).
11.______Asa (2 Chronicles 16:10).
12.______Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5:6).
13.______Jonah (Jonah 3:10; 4:1-11).
14.______Herod (Matthew 2:16).
15.______People of Nazareth (Luke 4:28).
16.______The Elder Brother (Luke 15:28).
17.______The Jerusalem Jews (Acts 7:54-58).
18.______Saul (Acts 9:1).
19.______Paul (Acts 13:9-11; Galatians 1:7-9).
20.______Satan (Rev. 12:12,17).
I'm far from perfect but with each day and each new situation that arises in my life, God is teaching me and showing me where I fall short and what I have to work on in my life! We all have something we must work on, none have attained. However continuing in the sin is a whole different matter, when you do not ask forgiveness and you continually do the sin......you are far from God. But thanks be unto God he offers forgiveness through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, our advocate. All we have to do is ask!
Healthy, Holy, Righteous Anger
1) God is angry.
God is _____________ with the wicked ______________ _______
(Psalm 7:11). God is always and ever angry against sin!
2) The Lord Jesus is sometimes angry.
Consider the following passages and discuss why the Lord Jesus was angry:
- Mark 3:5 (compare Matthew 12:10-12--these religious leaders were more merciful to a dumb animal than they were to their fellow man!).
- Mark 10:14 ("much displeased" should be translated "moved with indignation or anger").
- Mark 11:15-17 (compare John 2:13-17).
- Matthew 16:21-23.
- Matthew l8:6-7.
- Matthew 23:13-33.
- Revelation 2:6,15.
- Revelation 19:15-16.
3) The Holy Spirit sometimes causes men to be angry (1 Samuel 11:6).
4) God commands the believer to "BE _________________" (Ephesians 4:26).
Caution: The Lord knows that with frail men righteous anger can easily become sinful anger, so He adds the words, "and _______ not" (Eph. 4:26). It’s easy for us to get angry at the wrong things or to get angry at the right things for the wrong reasons! If your sinful anger has harmed someone else, don’t go to bed until you have corrected the problem in God’s way (prior to the age of electric lights people used to go to bed when the sun went down!).
As you consider the following people and their anger, decide whether their anger was SINFUL (indicate by "S") or RIGHTEOUS (indicate by "R"):
1.______Cain (Genesis 4:5-6).
2.______Esau (Genesis 27:41-45).
3.______Moses (Exodus 16:20; 32:19 Leviticus 10:16-17).
4.______Moses (Numbers 20:7-13; compare Numbers 27:12-14; Deut. 1:37; Psalm 106:33).
5.______Balak (Numbers 24:10).
6.______Saul (1 Samuel 11:6).
7.______Saul (1 Samuel 20:30).
8.______David (1 Samuel 17:26, 45-46).
9.______David (2 Samuel 12:5; note: David was right in getting angry at the sin of this man, but who should he really have been angry at?).
10.______Elisha (2 Kings 13:19).
11.______Asa (2 Chronicles 16:10).
12.______Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5:6).
13.______Jonah (Jonah 3:10; 4:1-11).
14.______Herod (Matthew 2:16).
15.______People of Nazareth (Luke 4:28).
16.______The Elder Brother (Luke 15:28).
17.______The Jerusalem Jews (Acts 7:54-58).
18.______Saul (Acts 9:1).
19.______Paul (Acts 13:9-11; Galatians 1:7-9).
20.______Satan (Rev. 12:12,17).
- This study is shared with permission from the owner, Middletown Bible Church. Feel free to print this study to fill in the blanks and do the studying!
I'm far from perfect but with each day and each new situation that arises in my life, God is teaching me and showing me where I fall short and what I have to work on in my life! We all have something we must work on, none have attained. However continuing in the sin is a whole different matter, when you do not ask forgiveness and you continually do the sin......you are far from God. But thanks be unto God he offers forgiveness through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, our advocate. All we have to do is ask!
The Stuff We're Made Of
Acts 5: 38-39
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took council to slay them. Standing before them was a man who had been with Jesus Christ - a close disciple at that. He had been with him from the beginning and had taken part in His ministry and had seen the miracles He accomplished; heard His preaching and teaching and walked with Him on the water. He had learned from the Lord at an exponential rate. He was given the opportunity to preach repentance as Jesus did; heal the sick as Jesus and cast out devils just like Jesus (Mark 6: 12-13).
Sure, he had his moments of failure - even bitter defeat. But through it all, God made him. Not only him, but all those who turned to the Lord with a whole heart. Peter witnessed the Risen Savior and stood and watched as He ascended to Heaven. He obeyed Jesus’ command to tarry at Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Ghost. The result? The Baptism of the Holy Ghost and the immediate preaching of a message that produced effective results in three thousand souls. That was just the beginning.
So this Peter stood before the High Priest of a now defunct religion and its council. Filled with the Holy Ghost, he preaches THEM a message too. And wouldn’t you know it? They got hit with the same forceful conviction of the Holy Ghost they did when Jesus preached at them. They didn’t realize that killing the one man they murderously hated would produce 12 more preachers of the same spirit. Sadly, they refused the Spirit of God again at Peter’s message too. They reacted exactly the same; not just content to say no, but they were filled with the desire to kill this man too. He preached like Jesus, he acted like Jesus and God moved with him just like Jesus!
Seeing the reaction, the only seemingly receptive one of the bunch arose to quell the others. Gamaliel was no ordinary member of the council. He was a doctor of the law with the reputation of wisdom. He put forth a reminder to them of Theudas and Judas - two men who before had risen as cultic leaders of sorts. Hundreds of people had followed them, yet both were killed and the masses were scattered and brought to nought.
But he saw in these disciples something different. He knew in his heart these men preached a message that actually did something in people’s hearts and souls. He saw God in their lives: words and actions. Their leader was ‘dead’ and they were not only still living for him, but they were stronger in their convictions and willing to be killed for the cause. He saw the stuff they were made of, and it was godly and righteous.
Christian: How often do you consider that YOU are made of the same stuff? Peter continued right where Jesus left off. In fact, Peter’s shadow was a tool of God’s healing. You don’t read that about Jesus. So Peter did things we don’t read of Jesus’ doing. This was His plan all along: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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.” (John 14: 12)
Remember, the Bible was written to the believer. So the words of Jesus weren’t just directed at Peter and the other disciples. Jesus says them to you today. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Written by my husband
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.Gamaliel, who spoke these words, was part of a council which had just been blasted by the preacher Peter, who said, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree… and we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took council to slay them. Standing before them was a man who had been with Jesus Christ - a close disciple at that. He had been with him from the beginning and had taken part in His ministry and had seen the miracles He accomplished; heard His preaching and teaching and walked with Him on the water. He had learned from the Lord at an exponential rate. He was given the opportunity to preach repentance as Jesus did; heal the sick as Jesus and cast out devils just like Jesus (Mark 6: 12-13).
Sure, he had his moments of failure - even bitter defeat. But through it all, God made him. Not only him, but all those who turned to the Lord with a whole heart. Peter witnessed the Risen Savior and stood and watched as He ascended to Heaven. He obeyed Jesus’ command to tarry at Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Ghost. The result? The Baptism of the Holy Ghost and the immediate preaching of a message that produced effective results in three thousand souls. That was just the beginning.
So this Peter stood before the High Priest of a now defunct religion and its council. Filled with the Holy Ghost, he preaches THEM a message too. And wouldn’t you know it? They got hit with the same forceful conviction of the Holy Ghost they did when Jesus preached at them. They didn’t realize that killing the one man they murderously hated would produce 12 more preachers of the same spirit. Sadly, they refused the Spirit of God again at Peter’s message too. They reacted exactly the same; not just content to say no, but they were filled with the desire to kill this man too. He preached like Jesus, he acted like Jesus and God moved with him just like Jesus!
Seeing the reaction, the only seemingly receptive one of the bunch arose to quell the others. Gamaliel was no ordinary member of the council. He was a doctor of the law with the reputation of wisdom. He put forth a reminder to them of Theudas and Judas - two men who before had risen as cultic leaders of sorts. Hundreds of people had followed them, yet both were killed and the masses were scattered and brought to nought.
But he saw in these disciples something different. He knew in his heart these men preached a message that actually did something in people’s hearts and souls. He saw God in their lives: words and actions. Their leader was ‘dead’ and they were not only still living for him, but they were stronger in their convictions and willing to be killed for the cause. He saw the stuff they were made of, and it was godly and righteous.
Christian: How often do you consider that YOU are made of the same stuff? Peter continued right where Jesus left off. In fact, Peter’s shadow was a tool of God’s healing. You don’t read that about Jesus. So Peter did things we don’t read of Jesus’ doing. This was His plan all along: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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.” (John 14: 12)
Remember, the Bible was written to the believer. So the words of Jesus weren’t just directed at Peter and the other disciples. Jesus says them to you today. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Written by my husband
Cleaning Tips
All Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner
Here is a recipe I invented myself and have used for a long time and love it! It disinfects (tea tree oil) and cleans really good and I love how it can get rid of odors as well!
Here is how I make it:
I use one of those large sized spray containers you get at Walmart to make this cleaner in and I use this on our kitchen countertops, stove, etc.
If you want to mask the strong smell of the Tea Tree oil, simply add a drop of your favorite essential oil. But leave the Tea Tree oil because it is what disinfects!
Bar Keeper's Friend
Another tip, do you ever get those stains on your counter-top that seemingly no matter what you do they won't come off? Well I had a few stains from one of my cast iron pans and then a stain from koolaid. I had tried all I could think off......lemons with salt, different cleaners and nothing would get the stains off! Then I sprinkled some Bar Keeper's Friend on there and it QUICKLY came off! So now I use that for things I can not get off! It took the iron rust right off my countertop, when I thought it was there to stay permanently.
Here is a recipe I invented myself and have used for a long time and love it! It disinfects (tea tree oil) and cleans really good and I love how it can get rid of odors as well!
Here is how I make it:
- Equal parts of warm water and white vinegar
- 1-2 drops of dishwashing liquid
- 5-10 drops of Tea tree oil
I use one of those large sized spray containers you get at Walmart to make this cleaner in and I use this on our kitchen countertops, stove, etc.
If you want to mask the strong smell of the Tea Tree oil, simply add a drop of your favorite essential oil. But leave the Tea Tree oil because it is what disinfects!
Bar Keeper's Friend
Another tip, do you ever get those stains on your counter-top that seemingly no matter what you do they won't come off? Well I had a few stains from one of my cast iron pans and then a stain from koolaid. I had tried all I could think off......lemons with salt, different cleaners and nothing would get the stains off! Then I sprinkled some Bar Keeper's Friend on there and it QUICKLY came off! So now I use that for things I can not get off! It took the iron rust right off my countertop, when I thought it was there to stay permanently.
Killing With Words
KILLING WITH WORDS
(Author Unknown)
My Name Is Gossip.
I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing.
I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cunning and malicious & gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society.
My victims are helpless.
They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.
To track me down is impossible
The harder you try, the more elusive I become.
I am nobody's friend.
Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.
I topple governments and ruin marriages.
I end ministries set up by God.
I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion.
I spawn suspicion and generate grief.
I make innocent people cry in their pillows.
Even my name hisses.
I AM CALLED GOSSIP.
Church gossip
Office gossip
Shop gossip
Party gossip
Telephone gossip
Online gossip
I make headlines & headaches!
Before You Repeat A Story, Ask Yourself...
IS IT TRUE?
IS IT FAIR?
IS IT NECESSARY?
WOULD I WANT IT DONE TO ME?
It's Called Parenting!
A lady that was in the same store as me and my daughter had been listening to my 3yr old daughter sing Jesus Loves Me, sing her ABC's and talk to others around us while we shopped. Come to find out she was a Kindergarten teacher and she was amazed my daughter knew her ABC's among many other things she could sing several songs, quote the fruits of the spirit, tell Bible stories and tell someone about Jesus. She thought this was some extraordinary child and gifted and told me she will go far.
It was sad.....you might be saying "Why would that be sad?" Well, it is sad because all it is, is simply PARENTING!!!! Spending time with your child, teaching them the Bible and things they need to learn. Constantly talking with them and letting them help in the house, etc. However in today's society it is not so popular to really raise your children. Send them to daycare.....send them off to preschool to let someone else teach them what you YOURSELF could teach them in those young and moldable years.
Why is the average mother not doing her role? Why have a child in the first place if you were not going to raise them yourself? It mind boggles me all the time when I hear comments about my daughter being gifted.......when in reality, she is a normal 3yr old who has her parents loving her and teaching her and constantly praising her. Children NEED praise. Children NEED enthusiasm. One thing I always want my daughter to have is enthusiasm. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. They have interest in life......and others simply by enthusiasm.
Instill in your daughters (by your example).....the role in which they were made for. Show them the value of what God has made them to be. Don't let the world and all its ideals, be the motivating factor in your daughter's life! Train them at home........teach them what the Bible says! Guard your children from outward influences which would be harmful......get rid of your TV!
I went home to visit my family and just being there for 12 days.......I saw enough on TV to reaffirm me not having one, going on 9 years now. I thought to myself "well it is a cartoon channel, so what could be so bad, right?" Then I saw the commercials and some of the cartoons had horrid things in them! How could this be?? Do parents leave their children to sit and watch this day in and out? WHO IS MOLDING YOUR CHILD'S BRAIN?????? Hollywood?? Is everything you put in front of your child what you want them to learn and mimic? If not, then THROW it out! ; )
We occasionally let my daughter watch a cartoon that we have screened on our computer, most are Bible DVDs and learning tools. My daughter mostly does puzzles, plays instructional computer games (yes she can use a computer very well), and loves learning and playing. Children's minds are impressionable and we must filter what is put before them, things we can control.
God has given you children and entrusts them to your care. Don't disappoint him.......train them up in the way they should go!! It's YOUR job, not anyone else's.........
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Discipline
Just what is discipline?
Discipline - training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character; control gained by enforcing obedience or order; orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior; SELF CONTROL
I also looked up the definition of self control and it is defined as restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires! That is exactly what I need......some restraint exercised!! Also in my daily life with home things and cleaning and cooking, etc. Even spiritual.......we all need more discipline and self control somewhere in our lives. Or maybe I'm talking to an elite group of readers who are the epitome of discipline and self control.
Discipline makes your flesh do what it doesn't want to do and restrains your flesh from doing things that would cause undesirable consequences.
It is biblical as well! How about these verses, do they not display the discipline and self control quality?
Romans 6:19
Romans 8:13
Romans 13:14
2 Cor 7:1
You can see the words that I put in bold describe things that we must do. All through scripture we find that it doesn't stop at salvation......we must CONTINUE to walk in God and practice discipline to keep our flesh under control. It doesn't just happen.......you have to follow God's word. Notice the bold words that we must do, these are action words:
yield
mortify
put ye on
make not provision
let us cleanse
There are MANY more scriptures but I just shared the first few that I found. If you truly are a Christian and love God, you will continue to walk in the Spirit, practice self control and discipline in your life and do those things outlined in the Bible that God has COMMANDED for us to do as his children. His commandments are not grievous to the Christian.
1 John 5:3
Discipline - training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character; control gained by enforcing obedience or order; orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior; SELF CONTROL
I also looked up the definition of self control and it is defined as restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires! That is exactly what I need......some restraint exercised!! Also in my daily life with home things and cleaning and cooking, etc. Even spiritual.......we all need more discipline and self control somewhere in our lives. Or maybe I'm talking to an elite group of readers who are the epitome of discipline and self control.
Discipline makes your flesh do what it doesn't want to do and restrains your flesh from doing things that would cause undesirable consequences.
It is biblical as well! How about these verses, do they not display the discipline and self control quality?
Romans 6:19
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Romans 13:14
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
2 Cor 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
You can see the words that I put in bold describe things that we must do. All through scripture we find that it doesn't stop at salvation......we must CONTINUE to walk in God and practice discipline to keep our flesh under control. It doesn't just happen.......you have to follow God's word. Notice the bold words that we must do, these are action words:
yield
mortify
put ye on
make not provision
let us cleanse
There are MANY more scriptures but I just shared the first few that I found. If you truly are a Christian and love God, you will continue to walk in the Spirit, practice self control and discipline in your life and do those things outlined in the Bible that God has COMMANDED for us to do as his children. His commandments are not grievous to the Christian.
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
A Man's Needs
Below is a list from men around the country that either spoke or sent the comments in to Dr. Laura. They are great and every married woman should strive to meet her husband's needs! We are selfish when we constantly think about our needs and our feelings and forget that MEN have feelings and needs too and in reality.......if you meet his needs, yours will be met in return. ; )
A Man's Needs
A Man's Needs
- A man needs to feel strong and needed as a protector for women - basically, to conquer the beast and rescue the fair maiden.
- What every man wants is for his woman to make him feel that he is strong and the head of the household. I am not talking caveman-style, dragging the woman around by her hair, but just as the leader of the family.
- A man wants respect, kindness, and love from his woman.
- A man wants to be put on a pedestal, not so that he can look down on everyone, but to show him that he is the most important thing to his woman.
- A man needs his woman to show him that she needs his strength to help her through life.
- The man should be the major breadwinner in the family. Every man needs a battle or war to win to prove to himself that he is strong and capable of conquering any and all dragons that life throws his way. Taking care of his family by working and providing are his battles.
- A man needs enthusiastic approval, appreciation, and respect from his wife for being a competent man, husband, and father.
- A man needs his wife to show some interest in his interests, especially when it's an activity she may not "get" or like. Just being there is important.
- A man needs his wife to greet him after work with love and enthusiasm.
- A man needs his wife to care about the day he's had.
- A man needs to know that his wife is sexually satisfied by him.
- A man needs his wife's encouragement in order to be a man.
These are all tried and tested! They work....he WILL treat you like a queen if you start treating him like a man and let him be the leader of the home.
Our Words; Conclusion
I hope you all enjoyed the study, here is the last part and this will finish it up!
The Power Of Words To Hurt And To Heal
Have you ever heard the expression: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Is this really true? Of course words will not break your bones or hurt you in a physical way, but can words really harm and hurt a person? Let’s see what the book of Proverbs says.
What damage can words do according to Proverbs 11:9? ______________________________________
According to Proverbs 11:11? ____________________
Do you think you would be hurt if someone pierced you with a sword? _______ Can the wrong kind of words hurt a person (Proverbs 12:18)? _______ (It’s possible for a person to speak daggers!)
According to Proverbs 16:27, in the lips of the ungodly man there is as a _______________________ (scorching) fire. A fire brings destruction everywhere it goes (think of a forest fire). So also the words of the ungodly bring destruction and ruin wherever they go!
Who is the person who has destruction and comes to ruin (Proverbs 13:3)? __________________________
What causes a fool to be destroyed and trapped (Proverbs 18:7)? _______________________________________
Not only can words harm and hurt, but they can also help and heal.
As honey is to the taste, so good words are to the ears and to the soul!
The lips of the unrighteous constantly bring forth GARBAGE, and who would want to feed on garbage? But the words that come forth from righteous lips are healthy and wholesome and good for the soul!
Can you think of any time in your life when you have been helped and strengthened by someone’s words? Have you ever been encouraged or cheered up by someone’s words? Have the words of concerned people ever kept you out of trouble?
How can a person keep his life according to Proverbs 13:3? _____________________________________
How can a person keep his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23)? __________________________________
Every believer needs to guard his mouth. It is like the gates of a city. If the gates are well guarded, the city is safe!
What should the believer’s prayer be (Psalm141:3)? ___________________________________________
What is another good prayer that the believer can pray (Psalm 19:14)? ________________________________________________
Words are very powerful, whether for good or for evil. May God help us to use the powerful weapon of words for Him!
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
~ FRANCIS RIDLEY HAVERGAL
The Power Of Words To Hurt And To Heal
Have you ever heard the expression: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Is this really true? Of course words will not break your bones or hurt you in a physical way, but can words really harm and hurt a person? Let’s see what the book of Proverbs says.
What damage can words do according to Proverbs 11:9? ______________________________________
According to Proverbs 11:11? ____________________
Do you think you would be hurt if someone pierced you with a sword? _______ Can the wrong kind of words hurt a person (Proverbs 12:18)? _______ (It’s possible for a person to speak daggers!)
According to Proverbs 16:27, in the lips of the ungodly man there is as a _______________________ (scorching) fire. A fire brings destruction everywhere it goes (think of a forest fire). So also the words of the ungodly bring destruction and ruin wherever they go!
Who is the person who has destruction and comes to ruin (Proverbs 13:3)? __________________________
What causes a fool to be destroyed and trapped (Proverbs 18:7)? _______________________________________
Not only can words harm and hurt, but they can also help and heal.
The tongue of the wise is _______________ (healing)Proverbs 12:18
A wholesome tongue is a ___________ of______Proverbs 15:4, and this tree brings forth good and healthy fruit!
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, ________________ to the soul, andProverbs 16:24
_________________ to the bones.
As honey is to the taste, so good words are to the ears and to the soul!
The lips of the righteous ______________ many.Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the unrighteous constantly bring forth GARBAGE, and who would want to feed on garbage? But the words that come forth from righteous lips are healthy and wholesome and good for the soul!
Can you think of any time in your life when you have been helped and strengthened by someone’s words? Have you ever been encouraged or cheered up by someone’s words? Have the words of concerned people ever kept you out of trouble?
How can a person keep his life according to Proverbs 13:3? _____________________________________
How can a person keep his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23)? __________________________________
Every believer needs to guard his mouth. It is like the gates of a city. If the gates are well guarded, the city is safe!
What should the believer’s prayer be (Psalm141:3)? ___________________________________________
What is another good prayer that the believer can pray (Psalm 19:14)? ________________________________________________
Words are very powerful, whether for good or for evil. May God help us to use the powerful weapon of words for Him!
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
~ FRANCIS RIDLEY HAVERGAL
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