Mat 6:25 I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing?
Mat 6:32 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these.
Mat 6:33 But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Mat 6:34 Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
There are people who can walk away from you.
And hear me when I tell you this!
When people can walk away from you: let them walk.
I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you,
loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you,
staying attached to you.
I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you let them walk.
Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.
People leave you because they are not joined to you.
And if they are not joined to you,
you can't make them stay.
Let them go.
And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person,
it just means that their part in the story is over.
And you've got to know when people's
part in your story is over so that you
don't keep trying to raise the dead.
You've got to know when it's dead.
You've got to know when it's over.
Let me tell you something.
I've got the gift of good-bye.
It's the tenth spiritual gift,
I believe in good-bye.
It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful,
and I know whatever God means for me to have
He'll give it to me.
And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it.
Stop begging people to stay. Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something
that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life,
then you need to .GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains.
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If someone has angered you ...
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge .
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction .
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or
talents .
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you have a bad attitude...
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new
level in Him...
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help
themselves..
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed ....
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling
yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need
to...
GIVE IT TO GOD & LET IT GO!!
Let the past be the past.
Forget the former things.
GOD is doing a new thing for 2009!!
"The Battle is the Lord's!"
This was a T.D. Jakes poem but I added my own wording to it. I would never want to take anyone ones work and pretend it was my own.
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Scripture Sunday
This is a new series I am starting today. I will take bits and parts of my devotionals, Bible studies, the sermon that is perched at church or on the radio. I hope and pray that you learn something and enjoy this new series.
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
So do you have true joy in you life? Do you want to know how to get it? Well, I'll tell you. If you want true joy in your life, turn joy into an acronym. J.O.Y and it stands for, Jesus first, others second, yourself last. If more people followed this acronym the world world be a much happier and peaceful place.
So I have a girlfriend in California and I was chatting with her on the phone a couple months ago. I was explaining to her that I was reading the house rules for the Duggar Family and that is where I found that acronym. Then she said, "I teach my chilren that but I just can't get them to follow it." Then I told her that the reason her children will not follow that acronym is because she and her hubby need to set the example. I am just as gulity about not setting the example. Our children deffintly learn most of what they pick up from their parents.
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
So do you have true joy in you life? Do you want to know how to get it? Well, I'll tell you. If you want true joy in your life, turn joy into an acronym. J.O.Y and it stands for, Jesus first, others second, yourself last. If more people followed this acronym the world world be a much happier and peaceful place.
So I have a girlfriend in California and I was chatting with her on the phone a couple months ago. I was explaining to her that I was reading the house rules for the Duggar Family and that is where I found that acronym. Then she said, "I teach my chilren that but I just can't get them to follow it." Then I told her that the reason her children will not follow that acronym is because she and her hubby need to set the example. I am just as gulity about not setting the example. Our children deffintly learn most of what they pick up from their parents.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Divine inspiration in an unusual place.
Disclaimer: Anything stated in this post is not ment to speak badly of any of my family, it is just the story of what happened and how God showed me that He was there with me all the time.
It was the summer of 2007 and I was visiting my boys in California. I was staying at my grandparents (vegetarians) house because my ex will not let me keep the boys if I stay with any of my friends. So, since I am not in a hurry to go back to court, I do as he wishes. Anyhow, I was there about a week and all was going fine until my Aunt Shelli with her son kyle(vegetarians this is important to the story later) and my mom with my sister Lynette come to stay also. Then a day or two later my brother Nathan, his wife Kristie, and their son Kristian came to stay also.
My sister Lynette is a very good girl. She lives in Mexico with my mom. She works as a waitress (child labor laws do not exist in Mexico), and she volunteers at the local veterinarians office. She loves animals and ever since she knew what I veterinarian was she stated that she was going to be one when she got older. So one afternoon, Lynette was eating a turkey sandwich, our Aunt Shelli said, "Lynette, you must not love animals as much as you say if you are willing to eat them." Lynette responded,"Lucy (the veterinarian she works for) loves animals and she eats meat." By this time Lynette was in tears and left the room. When Lynette came back to the room I gave her a little side hug, patted her opposite hip and whispered in her ear to not pay any attention to what was said. I need to take me own advice a lot of times. So Shelli saw what was going on between Lynette and I and I guess it made her mad because she then attacked me by say, "oh come on Juliette, you are always overreacting and being dramtic." So I responded by saying, "What Shelli there is nothing better in your life so you have to abuse a 12 year old little girl." Well that really provoked her because then she started to criticize my mothering skills. She started yelling, "you abounded your boys for that bastard of a husband, you suck as a mother, you don't give a s*** about anyone but yourself!" By then my mother, grandmother, and Aunt Shelli where in the hallway all surrounding me like it was time to gang up on me. So all this yelling and slandering of me and my hubby, enraged me so I fired back with, "oh yeah, you're 38 years old, your son is 1 and now you are the expert on mothering." Then my mother and grandmother came to Shelli defense and both chimed in at the same time with, "Shelli is an excellent mother." I felt overwhelmed and defeated so I went into my room and called Guy, crying telling him that I wanted to come home. So Guy being the loving, caring hubby that he is, gave me a few suggestions. First he was very logical, he told me that the only way I could come home was to take a bus because my plane ticket was not exchangeable for a different date. Second he told me to stay in my room the rest of the night. In that time Guy recommended that I read my Bible, pray and turn in early because tomorrow is a new day, no need to carry bad feeling into a new day.
So the next day my Aunt Shelli, my mom, Lynette, my sons Devin & Alex, me, Nathan, Kristie, and Kristian were all getting ready to go to Sea World. So most of that day my boys, Lynette, Nathan, Kristie, and Kristian hung out and did our thing while my mom, Shelli, and Kyle did their thing. My mom, Shelli, and Kyle where only there for like four hours and left because my mom's health issues, Shelli was still breastfeeding and needed to pump, and Kyle because he neede to take a nap. We stayed til the park closed and had a pretty great day. So, I was feeling a lot better.
The next day my brother and his family left to go back to Utah. I was sad to see them go because I was having such a good time with them. So the plan was to go to Sea World again because we all had unlimited passes. So I was packing lunch for me, the boys and Lynette. When we got to Sea World, the boys and Lynette wanted to go on this water roller coster called Journey to Atlantis. Shelli, my mom, and Kyle went somewhere else. The plan was to meet up at some pet show after the ride. By the time we waited in line, got on the ride, ran to the pet show, we where too late, the show had already started. So the kids and me went on and did our own thing. I guess in hind sight, we could have waited but I didn't really think of that after being so getty from the roller coster. So a few hours go by and I get a call on my cell phone to bring Lynette to the front because my mom, Shelli and Kyle are leaving. So we decided to have lunch at that time anyhow. When we got up front Shelli went berserk yelling at me again that I didn't meet up with them on purpose. Then I explained what had happened and she called me a, " deceitful b***h!" Saying that I could have gotten in even after the show started. But I explained to her that there where employees at each entrance blocking anyone from getting in because they didn't want the show disrupted. Then she said, "you could have gotten in if you really wanted to." By then Lynette and Devin were in tears because of the fighting and once again I felt beat down. So I call my grandma to come and get us. I was telling my grandma what happened and she didn't say much about the whole thing. She acted like she didn't hear anything and asked what the boys and me wanted for dinner. The boys said, "pizza!" So we were off to Costco to get two extra large pizzas and that's when the Lord sent me a message. We were waiting in a very long line because it was summer, California, and dinner time. Way up at the front of the line I saw a guy with his shirt off and he had a bold print, old English script tattoo of a verse. The verse that I must have said in my head about a thousands times so I would not forget. So when we got home I went straight to my Bible and looked it up and it said John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I called Guy right away to tell him what had happened. I was really happy because I felt God was telling me that even if there was fighting and yelling that I am truly free because I am saved. I was no longer feeling beat down and depressed. Even though things got much worse with my Aunt Shelli, I still kept my head up because I have Christ on my side and she has always turned a deaf ear the the Truth.
It was the summer of 2007 and I was visiting my boys in California. I was staying at my grandparents (vegetarians) house because my ex will not let me keep the boys if I stay with any of my friends. So, since I am not in a hurry to go back to court, I do as he wishes. Anyhow, I was there about a week and all was going fine until my Aunt Shelli with her son kyle(vegetarians this is important to the story later) and my mom with my sister Lynette come to stay also. Then a day or two later my brother Nathan, his wife Kristie, and their son Kristian came to stay also.
My sister Lynette is a very good girl. She lives in Mexico with my mom. She works as a waitress (child labor laws do not exist in Mexico), and she volunteers at the local veterinarians office. She loves animals and ever since she knew what I veterinarian was she stated that she was going to be one when she got older. So one afternoon, Lynette was eating a turkey sandwich, our Aunt Shelli said, "Lynette, you must not love animals as much as you say if you are willing to eat them." Lynette responded,"Lucy (the veterinarian she works for) loves animals and she eats meat." By this time Lynette was in tears and left the room. When Lynette came back to the room I gave her a little side hug, patted her opposite hip and whispered in her ear to not pay any attention to what was said. I need to take me own advice a lot of times. So Shelli saw what was going on between Lynette and I and I guess it made her mad because she then attacked me by say, "oh come on Juliette, you are always overreacting and being dramtic." So I responded by saying, "What Shelli there is nothing better in your life so you have to abuse a 12 year old little girl." Well that really provoked her because then she started to criticize my mothering skills. She started yelling, "you abounded your boys for that bastard of a husband, you suck as a mother, you don't give a s*** about anyone but yourself!" By then my mother, grandmother, and Aunt Shelli where in the hallway all surrounding me like it was time to gang up on me. So all this yelling and slandering of me and my hubby, enraged me so I fired back with, "oh yeah, you're 38 years old, your son is 1 and now you are the expert on mothering." Then my mother and grandmother came to Shelli defense and both chimed in at the same time with, "Shelli is an excellent mother." I felt overwhelmed and defeated so I went into my room and called Guy, crying telling him that I wanted to come home. So Guy being the loving, caring hubby that he is, gave me a few suggestions. First he was very logical, he told me that the only way I could come home was to take a bus because my plane ticket was not exchangeable for a different date. Second he told me to stay in my room the rest of the night. In that time Guy recommended that I read my Bible, pray and turn in early because tomorrow is a new day, no need to carry bad feeling into a new day.
So the next day my Aunt Shelli, my mom, Lynette, my sons Devin & Alex, me, Nathan, Kristie, and Kristian were all getting ready to go to Sea World. So most of that day my boys, Lynette, Nathan, Kristie, and Kristian hung out and did our thing while my mom, Shelli, and Kyle did their thing. My mom, Shelli, and Kyle where only there for like four hours and left because my mom's health issues, Shelli was still breastfeeding and needed to pump, and Kyle because he neede to take a nap. We stayed til the park closed and had a pretty great day. So, I was feeling a lot better.
The next day my brother and his family left to go back to Utah. I was sad to see them go because I was having such a good time with them. So the plan was to go to Sea World again because we all had unlimited passes. So I was packing lunch for me, the boys and Lynette. When we got to Sea World, the boys and Lynette wanted to go on this water roller coster called Journey to Atlantis. Shelli, my mom, and Kyle went somewhere else. The plan was to meet up at some pet show after the ride. By the time we waited in line, got on the ride, ran to the pet show, we where too late, the show had already started. So the kids and me went on and did our own thing. I guess in hind sight, we could have waited but I didn't really think of that after being so getty from the roller coster. So a few hours go by and I get a call on my cell phone to bring Lynette to the front because my mom, Shelli and Kyle are leaving. So we decided to have lunch at that time anyhow. When we got up front Shelli went berserk yelling at me again that I didn't meet up with them on purpose. Then I explained what had happened and she called me a, " deceitful b***h!" Saying that I could have gotten in even after the show started. But I explained to her that there where employees at each entrance blocking anyone from getting in because they didn't want the show disrupted. Then she said, "you could have gotten in if you really wanted to." By then Lynette and Devin were in tears because of the fighting and once again I felt beat down. So I call my grandma to come and get us. I was telling my grandma what happened and she didn't say much about the whole thing. She acted like she didn't hear anything and asked what the boys and me wanted for dinner. The boys said, "pizza!" So we were off to Costco to get two extra large pizzas and that's when the Lord sent me a message. We were waiting in a very long line because it was summer, California, and dinner time. Way up at the front of the line I saw a guy with his shirt off and he had a bold print, old English script tattoo of a verse. The verse that I must have said in my head about a thousands times so I would not forget. So when we got home I went straight to my Bible and looked it up and it said John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I called Guy right away to tell him what had happened. I was really happy because I felt God was telling me that even if there was fighting and yelling that I am truly free because I am saved. I was no longer feeling beat down and depressed. Even though things got much worse with my Aunt Shelli, I still kept my head up because I have Christ on my side and she has always turned a deaf ear the the Truth.
What is the worst 4 letter word?
Some people would say that it is the "f" bomb. Other people might say that it is the "S" word. Women might say that they would go with the "C" word.
1John 2:9 If we claim to be in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark.
1John 3:15 If you hate each other, you are murderers, and we know that murderers do not have eternal life.
Well, I say that the worst four letter word is HATE. I say this because without hate we would have none of the other four letter words. Think about it, without hate these words would be like saying cake or flat. They would not raise such feelings of angry, annoyance, bitterness, being displeased, being irritated, feeling offended, outraged, provoked, resentfulness, uptight, and to the point wrath.
And how do we get over these four letter words? I would like to think that we could conquer a four letter word with a four letter word. We over come HATE with LOVE!
Matthew 5:43 & 44 You have heard people say, "Love your neighbors and hate your enemies."
But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.
What do we get from this passage, God is love.
Matthew 5:46 If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors love their friends.
This comes back to the hate thing. In order to truly conquer hate we have to love so much and so hard that it is uncomfortable. Yes, we have to step out of our comfort zone to get anything to change, and is that what being a Christian is all about?
Matthew 22:39 The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself."
Basically loving ourselves is easy but loving other as we do ourselves, not so much.
Luke 6:27 This is what I say to all who will listen to me: Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you.
That verse wraps this post up with a nice little bow on top.
1John 2:9 If we claim to be in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark.
1John 3:15 If you hate each other, you are murderers, and we know that murderers do not have eternal life.
Well, I say that the worst four letter word is HATE. I say this because without hate we would have none of the other four letter words. Think about it, without hate these words would be like saying cake or flat. They would not raise such feelings of angry, annoyance, bitterness, being displeased, being irritated, feeling offended, outraged, provoked, resentfulness, uptight, and to the point wrath.
And how do we get over these four letter words? I would like to think that we could conquer a four letter word with a four letter word. We over come HATE with LOVE!
Matthew 5:43 & 44 You have heard people say, "Love your neighbors and hate your enemies."
But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.
What do we get from this passage, God is love.
Matthew 5:46 If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors love their friends.
This comes back to the hate thing. In order to truly conquer hate we have to love so much and so hard that it is uncomfortable. Yes, we have to step out of our comfort zone to get anything to change, and is that what being a Christian is all about?
Matthew 22:39 The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself."
Basically loving ourselves is easy but loving other as we do ourselves, not so much.
Luke 6:27 This is what I say to all who will listen to me: Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you.
That verse wraps this post up with a nice little bow on top.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Satan is the reason for the season...
... not Jesus.
The most widely celebrated secular holiday, Christmas, is most widely celebrated by Christians themselves!
When the time comes that the little child has grown, and declares that "Santa is not real", what is the first thing that most folks do? They try their best to convince the child that Santa is indeed real, and that all they need to do is to "believe"...
Doesn't that particular privilege of "believe" belong exclusively to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Wasn't it a Philippian jailer question that told us that?
Acts 16:30-31 (KJV) "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
I have been very depressed as of late. After reading God's Appointed Times and doing a lot of research on the internet I have realized that I have been lied to my entire life.
Used to be that at Christmas I was happy to have the house filled with the scent of pine, a decorative the tree, have mistletoe hanging, a fresh holly wreath on the door and have special food on Christmas and Christmas eve. But now my eyes have been opened and I am going to share what I have found with all of you.
Has anyone even read up on the origin of Christmas or Easter? Has any one read about these holidays in the Bible? What about the things associated with these holidays?
First of all if you come at me with "we are celebrating the birth of Jesus". Jesus was not born on December 25th, He had to been born sometime in the fall because no shepherd would have his sheep outside in the dead of winter. Then for those of you who come at me with, "Jesus is the reason for the season." I will say that we as Christians should just leave it as "Jesus is the reason." When we add the season part of "Jesus is the reason," we drag in all of the secular junk with it like Santa, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, season’s greetings, seasonal music, decorated evergreen trees, mistletoe, holly wreaths, lights, debt, and gift exchanges.
It's not fair nor just by any standards, but rather it's a snare of the devil, of devilish law. Yet it's childish folly many adults never seem to outgrow, because churches and ministers fail to tell them the truth, not knowing the scriptures nor the gospel of God themselves. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power. Christmas Awareness is sorely lacking among churches and church folks. Every year many say, or go along with, Christmas is the happiest time of the year. First of all Christmas isn’t the happiest time of the year according to the facts. Police records and other media records indicate no other season has more shop lifting, feuds, drunk drivers, accidents, fires, divorces, depression, suicides, binges, hypocrisies, lies, murders, vandalism, debt incursion, etc.
Many also say, go along with, Santa Clause, elves, and flying reindeer. Lying to children is not Godly or good. I understand about the wonder and belief of a child but they can not be in the dark forever. They will one day know the truth and on that day will be let down and disappointed. As a child I would watch Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory and I knew it was make believe but I would still daydream about being in such a place where everything was made of candy. So my imagination was never lacking just because I knew the truth.
The explanation of the “Christmas tree.” Evergreens have been a symbol of rebirth from ancient times. Bringing greenery into one's home, often at the time of the winter solstice, symbolized life in the midst of death in many cultures. The modern Christmas tree originated in Germany. But the Germans got it from the Romans, who got it from the Babylonians and the Egyptians. Most aspects of Christmas are not referred to in the Bible. Of course, the reason is that they are not from God—they are not part of the way He wants people to worship Him. The Christmas tree, however, is directly mentioned in the Bible! Jer 10:2-5
(2) Don't follow the customs of those nations who become frightened when they see something strange happen in the sky.
(3) Their religion is worthless! They chop down a tree, carve the wood into an idol,
(4) cover it with silver and gold, and then nail it down so it won't fall over.
(5) An idol is no better than a scarecrow. It can't speak, and it has to be carried, because it can't walk. Why worship an idol that can't help or harm you? There is no room in Jeremiah 10 to believe, as some have tried to suggest, that because these trees are powerless of themselves, it is not really forbidden to have a Christmas tree. God condemns the putting up of pagan (Christmas) trees with this plain Bible command!
The Encyclopedia Britannica, under “Celastrales,” exposes the origin of the holly wreath: “European pagans brought holly sprays into their homes, offering them to the fairy people of the forests as refuges from the harsh winter weather. During the Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival, branches of holly were exchanged as tokens of friendship. The earliest Roman Christians apparently used holly as a decoration at the Christmas season.”
Christmas is incomplete to many unless it involves “kissing under the mistletoe.” This pagan custom was natural on a night that involved much revelry done in the spirit of drunken orgies.
Like mistletoe, holly berries were also thought to be sacred to the sun god. The original “sun log” came to be called the yule log. “Yule” simply means “wheel,” which has long been a pagan representation of the sun. No wonder people today commonly speak of the “sacred yule-tide season.”
The interchange of presents between friends adopted by Christians from the pagans. Like every other aspect of Christmas, the shocking truth is that even this supposed Christian custom does not come from the Bible. It is an irony that people love to believe they are following the custom of the wise men giving to Christ, when actually they are giving almost exclusively to each other! What hypocrisy! Christ is completely forgotten.
Once again, let’s more closely examine the actual history and origins of some of the Saturnalia customs still practiced today. Notice the following chilling quote from the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, “Oscilla” 3rd edition, volume II: “…all ranks devoted themselves to feasting and mirth, presents were exchanged among friends, and crowds thronged the streets. An offering was made beneath a decorated evergreen tree, according to the pagan poet, Virgil. Figurines and masks—called ‘oscilla’—were hung on the tree, as are Christmas decorations today. Doesn’t all of this sound familiar? Presents, singing in the streets, evergreen trees, decorations, offerings under the tree, merrymaking, feasting? They may sound wonderful, but they represent things that are truly abominable.
How much the date of the festival depended upon the pagan Brumalia (December 25) following the Saturnalia (Dec. 17-24), and celebrating the shortest day of the year and the ‘new sun’…cannot be accurately determined. The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence…The pagan festival with its riot and merry-making was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit and in manner. Christian preachers of the West and the Near East protested against the unseemly frivolity with which Christ’s birthday was celebrated, while Christians of Mesopotamia accused their Western brethren of idolatry and sun worship for adopting as Christian this pagan festival.”
The real Jesus Christ was never in and never will be in Christmas! He cannot be put back into where He has never been. But the “god of this world,” Satan has always been in Christmas. He is its author!
The true God commands that we “must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” This does not mesh with the great Christmas and Santa Claus lies that all children so willingly believe.
1Ti 4:2 They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling. warns of those “speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” Parents can “burn” their own children, to the point of searing them, with the Christmas deception and lie!
There is no “safety in numbers” in this world for those who keep Christmas, because Satan, who is called “the father of lies” and “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44), has “deceived the whole world” (Rev. 12:9)! Turn to this verse and read it. Then recognize that Christmas is certainly a testimony to that great deception.
The bottom line is that "Jesus is the Reason," and instead of a large evergreen tree in your living room set up a large Nativity scene to celebrate Jesus' birth. Instead of singing Christmas carols around the neighborhood, sing hymns and witness to your neighbors, friends and family. Instead of gift giving (and going into debt), give the money to doing God's work. If you truly want to go along with the Bible celebrate Hanukkah as a lead up to the celebration of Jesus' birth.
The most widely celebrated secular holiday, Christmas, is most widely celebrated by Christians themselves!
When the time comes that the little child has grown, and declares that "Santa is not real", what is the first thing that most folks do? They try their best to convince the child that Santa is indeed real, and that all they need to do is to "believe"...
Doesn't that particular privilege of "believe" belong exclusively to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Wasn't it a Philippian jailer question that told us that?
Acts 16:30-31 (KJV) "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
I have been very depressed as of late. After reading God's Appointed Times and doing a lot of research on the internet I have realized that I have been lied to my entire life.
Used to be that at Christmas I was happy to have the house filled with the scent of pine, a decorative the tree, have mistletoe hanging, a fresh holly wreath on the door and have special food on Christmas and Christmas eve. But now my eyes have been opened and I am going to share what I have found with all of you.
Has anyone even read up on the origin of Christmas or Easter? Has any one read about these holidays in the Bible? What about the things associated with these holidays?
First of all if you come at me with "we are celebrating the birth of Jesus". Jesus was not born on December 25th, He had to been born sometime in the fall because no shepherd would have his sheep outside in the dead of winter. Then for those of you who come at me with, "Jesus is the reason for the season." I will say that we as Christians should just leave it as "Jesus is the reason." When we add the season part of "Jesus is the reason," we drag in all of the secular junk with it like Santa, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, season’s greetings, seasonal music, decorated evergreen trees, mistletoe, holly wreaths, lights, debt, and gift exchanges.
It's not fair nor just by any standards, but rather it's a snare of the devil, of devilish law. Yet it's childish folly many adults never seem to outgrow, because churches and ministers fail to tell them the truth, not knowing the scriptures nor the gospel of God themselves. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power. Christmas Awareness is sorely lacking among churches and church folks. Every year many say, or go along with, Christmas is the happiest time of the year. First of all Christmas isn’t the happiest time of the year according to the facts. Police records and other media records indicate no other season has more shop lifting, feuds, drunk drivers, accidents, fires, divorces, depression, suicides, binges, hypocrisies, lies, murders, vandalism, debt incursion, etc.
Many also say, go along with, Santa Clause, elves, and flying reindeer. Lying to children is not Godly or good. I understand about the wonder and belief of a child but they can not be in the dark forever. They will one day know the truth and on that day will be let down and disappointed. As a child I would watch Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory and I knew it was make believe but I would still daydream about being in such a place where everything was made of candy. So my imagination was never lacking just because I knew the truth.
The explanation of the “Christmas tree.” Evergreens have been a symbol of rebirth from ancient times. Bringing greenery into one's home, often at the time of the winter solstice, symbolized life in the midst of death in many cultures. The modern Christmas tree originated in Germany. But the Germans got it from the Romans, who got it from the Babylonians and the Egyptians. Most aspects of Christmas are not referred to in the Bible. Of course, the reason is that they are not from God—they are not part of the way He wants people to worship Him. The Christmas tree, however, is directly mentioned in the Bible! Jer 10:2-5
(2) Don't follow the customs of those nations who become frightened when they see something strange happen in the sky.
(3) Their religion is worthless! They chop down a tree, carve the wood into an idol,
(4) cover it with silver and gold, and then nail it down so it won't fall over.
(5) An idol is no better than a scarecrow. It can't speak, and it has to be carried, because it can't walk. Why worship an idol that can't help or harm you? There is no room in Jeremiah 10 to believe, as some have tried to suggest, that because these trees are powerless of themselves, it is not really forbidden to have a Christmas tree. God condemns the putting up of pagan (Christmas) trees with this plain Bible command!
The Encyclopedia Britannica, under “Celastrales,” exposes the origin of the holly wreath: “European pagans brought holly sprays into their homes, offering them to the fairy people of the forests as refuges from the harsh winter weather. During the Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival, branches of holly were exchanged as tokens of friendship. The earliest Roman Christians apparently used holly as a decoration at the Christmas season.”
Christmas is incomplete to many unless it involves “kissing under the mistletoe.” This pagan custom was natural on a night that involved much revelry done in the spirit of drunken orgies.
Like mistletoe, holly berries were also thought to be sacred to the sun god. The original “sun log” came to be called the yule log. “Yule” simply means “wheel,” which has long been a pagan representation of the sun. No wonder people today commonly speak of the “sacred yule-tide season.”
The interchange of presents between friends adopted by Christians from the pagans. Like every other aspect of Christmas, the shocking truth is that even this supposed Christian custom does not come from the Bible. It is an irony that people love to believe they are following the custom of the wise men giving to Christ, when actually they are giving almost exclusively to each other! What hypocrisy! Christ is completely forgotten.
Once again, let’s more closely examine the actual history and origins of some of the Saturnalia customs still practiced today. Notice the following chilling quote from the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, “Oscilla” 3rd edition, volume II: “…all ranks devoted themselves to feasting and mirth, presents were exchanged among friends, and crowds thronged the streets. An offering was made beneath a decorated evergreen tree, according to the pagan poet, Virgil. Figurines and masks—called ‘oscilla’—were hung on the tree, as are Christmas decorations today. Doesn’t all of this sound familiar? Presents, singing in the streets, evergreen trees, decorations, offerings under the tree, merrymaking, feasting? They may sound wonderful, but they represent things that are truly abominable.
How much the date of the festival depended upon the pagan Brumalia (December 25) following the Saturnalia (Dec. 17-24), and celebrating the shortest day of the year and the ‘new sun’…cannot be accurately determined. The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence…The pagan festival with its riot and merry-making was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit and in manner. Christian preachers of the West and the Near East protested against the unseemly frivolity with which Christ’s birthday was celebrated, while Christians of Mesopotamia accused their Western brethren of idolatry and sun worship for adopting as Christian this pagan festival.”
One additional source reveals how the Roman church absorbed Christmas into an official celebration. The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1946 edition, states, “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church…Certain Latins, as early as 354, may have transferred the birthday from January 6th to December 25, which was then a Mithraic feast…or birthday of the unconquered SUN…The Syrians and Armenians, who clung to January 6th, accused the Romans of sun worship and idolatry, contending…that the feast of December 25th, had been invented by disciples of Cerinthus…”
Thus, a pagan festival, celebrated long before Christ’s birth, found its way into recognized Christianity.
Did you know that even the seventeenth century Puritans of New England understood how wrong Christmas was? They actually banned its observance by law, in 1659, throughout the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Fines and imprisonment could result from being found keeping it. It was almost 200 years (1856) before people stopped working on Christmas in Boston. The Puritans knew its roots and labeled it “heathen, papist idolatry.”
One of Satan’s names is Destroyer. Nimrod/Saturn/Molech/Baal, like Satan, is the fire god who destroys and devours little children.The real Jesus Christ was never in and never will be in Christmas! He cannot be put back into where He has never been. But the “god of this world,” Satan has always been in Christmas. He is its author!
The true God commands that we “must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” This does not mesh with the great Christmas and Santa Claus lies that all children so willingly believe.
1Ti 4:2 They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling. warns of those “speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” Parents can “burn” their own children, to the point of searing them, with the Christmas deception and lie!
There is no “safety in numbers” in this world for those who keep Christmas, because Satan, who is called “the father of lies” and “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44), has “deceived the whole world” (Rev. 12:9)! Turn to this verse and read it. Then recognize that Christmas is certainly a testimony to that great deception.
The bottom line is that "Jesus is the Reason," and instead of a large evergreen tree in your living room set up a large Nativity scene to celebrate Jesus' birth. Instead of singing Christmas carols around the neighborhood, sing hymns and witness to your neighbors, friends and family. Instead of gift giving (and going into debt), give the money to doing God's work. If you truly want to go along with the Bible celebrate Hanukkah as a lead up to the celebration of Jesus' birth.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Is Jesus your brother?
Php 2:11 And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, "Jesus Christ is Lord!"
So if God is our Heavenly Father and Jesus is His Son and we are His children. Then wouldn't that make Jesus our Heavenly brother? And Jesus was born as King of the Jews, so doesn't that make all Christians messianic Jews?
Because Jewish people do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. But Jewish people that believe that Jesus is the Messiah are called messianic Jews. Or should Jewish people that believe in Jesus the Messiah just be called Christians like the rest of us? So what do you think?
So I am reading this book called God's Appointed Times and it is a very interesting book. I think that at the start of the new year me and my house are going to celebrate holy holidays like the Jewish people did in the Bible. I will definitely be posting on what I learn. I am also going to study the current holiday that we celebrate and find out the origin of things associated with those holidays. I want to teach my children God's way and not just do things out of tradition.
So if God is our Heavenly Father and Jesus is His Son and we are His children. Then wouldn't that make Jesus our Heavenly brother? And Jesus was born as King of the Jews, so doesn't that make all Christians messianic Jews?
Because Jewish people do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. But Jewish people that believe that Jesus is the Messiah are called messianic Jews. Or should Jewish people that believe in Jesus the Messiah just be called Christians like the rest of us? So what do you think?
So I am reading this book called God's Appointed Times and it is a very interesting book. I think that at the start of the new year me and my house are going to celebrate holy holidays like the Jewish people did in the Bible. I will definitely be posting on what I learn. I am also going to study the current holiday that we celebrate and find out the origin of things associated with those holidays. I want to teach my children God's way and not just do things out of tradition.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
In response to my last post on submission.
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
I just wanted to get this straight for the record. A Christian woman is to submit to her husband weather he is saved or not.
Let me give you all an example that I once heard a preacher give when I was in California and was listening to KWVE Christian radio.
There was a Christian wife married to an unsaved drunk of a man. So this husband would come home at 3 or 4 in the morning with his drunk buddies in toe. He would come in the house as loud as could be and go upstairs where his wife was sleeping. Then he would wake his wife so she could make her husband and his buddies breakfast. This husband did this to his wife for years and not once did his wife complain. Finally one day the husband said to the wife, "why do you put up with me? Why do you never complain?" And his very kind Christian wife responded as followed, "I want to give to as much comfort as I can here on Earth before you have to spend an eternity in Hell." That night that man was saved.
The moral of this story is that if that wife did not stay committed to doing God's work then her husband might have been lost and burned for an eternity.
So yes it would make a wife's job of submission much easier if her hubby is saved but what about the woman who gets saved after she is married? Even if the couple is unequally yoked the Christian wife must submit.
I just wanted to get this straight for the record. A Christian woman is to submit to her husband weather he is saved or not.
Let me give you all an example that I once heard a preacher give when I was in California and was listening to KWVE Christian radio.
There was a Christian wife married to an unsaved drunk of a man. So this husband would come home at 3 or 4 in the morning with his drunk buddies in toe. He would come in the house as loud as could be and go upstairs where his wife was sleeping. Then he would wake his wife so she could make her husband and his buddies breakfast. This husband did this to his wife for years and not once did his wife complain. Finally one day the husband said to the wife, "why do you put up with me? Why do you never complain?" And his very kind Christian wife responded as followed, "I want to give to as much comfort as I can here on Earth before you have to spend an eternity in Hell." That night that man was saved.
The moral of this story is that if that wife did not stay committed to doing God's work then her husband might have been lost and burned for an eternity.
So yes it would make a wife's job of submission much easier if her hubby is saved but what about the woman who gets saved after she is married? Even if the couple is unequally yoked the Christian wife must submit.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
I truly believe that God rewards obedience.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
I know there are women out there that have a problem with this verse but that is something that you will have to take up with God. Don't get me wrong, I had huge issues with this verse when I first got married but there were older women in our church that helped me see the light.
I think that the true test of this verse in my life was when my husband wanted to move to Northern New England from Southern California where I was born and raised. You see I have 2 boys from my first marriage and their father was not going to let me take them out of state. So here I was with my first daughter Scarlett only a few months old and my husband determined to leave California. So while the court case was under way (so I could get my boys in the summer) we left. That was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. But the Lord has blessed us with 3 more girls since we moved here. I am so glad that they were all girls because I would never want my boys to feel like they are being replaced. The bottom line to this story is that God knows what you can handle and what is best for you and your family.
I know there are women out there that have a problem with this verse but that is something that you will have to take up with God. Don't get me wrong, I had huge issues with this verse when I first got married but there were older women in our church that helped me see the light.
I think that the true test of this verse in my life was when my husband wanted to move to Northern New England from Southern California where I was born and raised. You see I have 2 boys from my first marriage and their father was not going to let me take them out of state. So here I was with my first daughter Scarlett only a few months old and my husband determined to leave California. So while the court case was under way (so I could get my boys in the summer) we left. That was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. But the Lord has blessed us with 3 more girls since we moved here. I am so glad that they were all girls because I would never want my boys to feel like they are being replaced. The bottom line to this story is that God knows what you can handle and what is best for you and your family.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thank goodness I am saved by grace & not by works.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean things, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags...
I am no better or no worse than any body else. Even on my best day I am a sinner.
Pro 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Pro 31:2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Pro 31:3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Pro 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Pro 31:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Pro 31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Pro 31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Pro 31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Pro 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Pro 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Pro 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Pro 31:14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Pro 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Pro 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Pro 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Pro 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Pro 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Pro 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Pro 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Pro 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Pro 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Pro 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Pro 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Pro 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Pro 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Pro 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Pro 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Pro 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
I try to be a proverbs 31 woman everyday and everyday I fall short. There are days when I fight with my husband and I yell at my kids. There are other days when I am submissive and I know that something that my hubby wants to do is a bad idea and I'll let him do as he pleases after I have put in my two cents. Then when it goes bad I have to fight with myself not to say, "I told you so." So in the end I am a mere human.
I am no better or no worse than any body else. Even on my best day I am a sinner.
Pro 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Pro 31:2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Pro 31:3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Pro 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Pro 31:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Pro 31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Pro 31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Pro 31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Pro 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Pro 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Pro 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Pro 31:14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Pro 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Pro 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Pro 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Pro 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Pro 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Pro 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Pro 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Pro 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Pro 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Pro 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Pro 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Pro 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Pro 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Pro 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Pro 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Pro 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
I try to be a proverbs 31 woman everyday and everyday I fall short. There are days when I fight with my husband and I yell at my kids. There are other days when I am submissive and I know that something that my hubby wants to do is a bad idea and I'll let him do as he pleases after I have put in my two cents. Then when it goes bad I have to fight with myself not to say, "I told you so." So in the end I am a mere human.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
One of my favorite passages.
Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Ruth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
This passage was read aloud at our wedding. This passage is so inspirational because of Ruth's determination to stick by her mother-in-laws side and take care of her. I feel the same way about my father-in-law, Rex. If my husband were to pass away I would totally take care of him. He has taken me in as family even though I am only his daughter-in-law. Don't get me wrong we have butted heads in the past and I am sure that we will most likely butt heads in the future. The point is that I am committed to making sure he is taken care of.
.
Ruth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
This passage was read aloud at our wedding. This passage is so inspirational because of Ruth's determination to stick by her mother-in-laws side and take care of her. I feel the same way about my father-in-law, Rex. If my husband were to pass away I would totally take care of him. He has taken me in as family even though I am only his daughter-in-law. Don't get me wrong we have butted heads in the past and I am sure that we will most likely butt heads in the future. The point is that I am committed to making sure he is taken care of.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
