Charles Spurgeon

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This past week I've been listening to many of Phil Johnson's sermons, and my absolute favorites (thus far anyway) are his talks about Charles Spurgeon. I would have loved to have met Pastor Spurgeon and attended his meetings! What a sweet man Spurgeon was... his enemies broke his heart which is why he died so young, at only 58 years (!) of age. I'm posting the links, mostly for myself to be able to enjoy them again and again, but also for anyone else to hear about God's greatest preacher (in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others too). I thought all of the sermons on this site were accompanied with transcripts, but unfortunately there aren't any for the ones listed below...however, the second one, "The Conversion of Charles Spurgeon", does has a transcript link to click onto which provides the photos which Pastor Johnson showed in a slide presentation while giving this sermon so it adds to being able to follow along and have the full experience of the teaching.

Charles Spurgeon: His Childhood and Youth

The Conversion of Charles Spurgeon

Spurgeon the Warrior

And this link has more sermons about Charles Spurgeon which I have yet to look forward to listening to.

A Thorn in the Flesh

   Phil Johnson   talks here about how God's power and strength is perfected in our weakness. I love this site because you can listen to the sermon (by clicking link at the top of the page) and follow along in the written transcript.

The mention of the thorn in the flesh is from 2 Corinthians 12:7. This sermon covers 2 Corinthians 12: 1-12.

Excerpt:

"Now: If you're paying attention and following my outline, you might want to stop me right there. Because we're on point 2 of a three-point outline, and we're supposed to be talking about the second of three gracious gifts God gave to Paul. First was paradise. That makes sense. The second, we said, was pain. And this thorn, whatever it was, is the source of Paul's pain. So was Paul's pain a provocation from Satan, or was it a gracious gift from God?
     What's the correct answer to that question?
     Both.
     Satan meant it for evil; God meant it for good. And here is a little secret: that is true of every vexing problem the powers of darkness ever cause for you."

...

Pastor Johnson goes into the exact meaning of the word "thorn", as well as the hints in that passage that seem to say that the thorn in his flesh involved persons, false teachers (whom he calls "super apostles" ESV or eminent apostles in NASB, which he says Paul here uses in a sarcastic way to underline their abuse to the people with false teachings) which Paul brings up in chapter 11 of 2 Corinthians, and then directs it back to them in verse 11 of chapter 12.

Pastor Johnson does say that whatever the thorn is, whether it is persons, or a physical affliction, or whatever it is, because Paul describes it as a "messenger of Satan" he is saying this is some kind of spiritual attack.... and that the Lord won't remove it because...well, I'll let him tell you as it is given in the text. It is a blessing that Jesus shares with us a little of the suffering that He had to suffer. We only get a small taste of it. He bore the full effect of the suffering, the onslaught of Satan, on our behalf. How often I gripe about the little bit of suffering I have compared with what He suffered completely and unjustly on my behalf. "Oh what a foretaste of heaven divine."

The Necessary Ingredient

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The past few days I've been cooking up a storm. Listening to a sermon given by Phil Johnson this morning on justification through faith, it suddenly dawned on me....faith is like "that" ingredient that makes the recipe. You cannot make roasted turkey without the turkey. There was an episode on "Everybody Loves Raymond" that brings this illustration to my mind. Doris (Raymond's mom) decided she would make a healthy Thanksgiving supper using tofu instead of turkey. She even shaped it to look like a turkey and made it look golden brown on the outside.

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 Raymond saved the day by ordering a real roasted turkey, and Doris had to admit that her tofu-"turkey" was a miserable failure.

*****

God gives us faith. Without faith it is impossible to be saved. Just like you can't have roasted turkey without the turkey, you cannot have salvation, no matter how much work you do to try to buy it or manipulate your way there, without the gift of God's faith. You might have something that you can make look like it. I've done some amazing things with tofu cutlets....but it was never turkey, and no matter how hard I tried to make it into turkey, it just wasn't. It might be something that looks similar, and it might even taste good, but it just isn't the same thing. So it is with a relationship to God. If that relationship is based on my works, my ability, my ANYTHING, it falls short of the glory of God and is unacceptable. It has to be me stepping out of the way and admitting my horrible condition, my depravity, my works earning hellfire, and that ability is from the Lord revealing this truth to me through the gift of His substitutionary life. The "not so secret ingredient" is provided by God to us for a true relationship with Him. 

If it isn't His life substituted for my sin I have no salvation, just like I couldn't have roasted turkey without the turkey.

You can hear Phil Johnson's sermon here at Sermon Audio.

God's Love....

 ... envieth not; ... vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up (1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV)


The ESV puts it this way:

 ...love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 

I see these things warring against my members!

 Romans 7:23  but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 

and

 John 15:12  "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:13  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Just a few verses that the Lord was reminding me of this morning. :)

How Long?

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to order print of artwork click here

Last night while driving home from work, I was pondering the things that I've been looking into...things like "transhumanism", and "channeling", and the new age infiltration into "the churches", and the violence and rampant deception, and the thought "How long, Lord? How long is this going to continue until your return?"
... and then the answer that the Bible gives came to mind:

" and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." Rev. 6:11

I think that time will be coming soon...praying for the strength and perseverance of  the saints, and praying for the grace and blessing and honor to be counted among that number...

Mat 20:20  Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
Mat 20:21  And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
Mat 20:22  But Jesus answered and said,

 Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 

They say unto him, 

We are able. 

Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.



Come quickly Lord Jesus!

Romans 9

 Kent Clark

"God didn't choose you because you were different because Romans chapter 3 says you were no different" - Pastor Kent Clark.

I love this sermon...and listening to it again last night it made it a little more clear, that there is nothing I do that makes me right with God, nothing. It's what He does. He draws me to Himself, and He changes me from the inside out. He transforms me into something new, and it is completely His doing, not me. To God be all the glory. :)

 Excerpt:

"....and out of nowhere when you least expected it GOTCHA!  And I know what some of you are thinking...some of you are thinking 'That is the MOST unsophisticated church service I've been to in my life.' You can go to hell sophisticated. I'm not trying to get us sophisticated here. I'm telling you that  there's a  big God, who knows the heart, and He didn't send His Son down here for you to be religious. He came down here to die for somebody. And He's dead serious about Who gets the glory. You're not going to praise the church....You're not going to praise the preacher....You're not going to praise your baptism....if you get to heaven, you are going to praise HIM."

 http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=31512735540

Prayers of the Saints

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(this link focuses a bit too much on evil for my taste, but I like the picture)

“the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever” (Revelation 14:11)

A few years ago I had read something somewhere which talked about the contrasts in the Bible; the juxtaposition of opposites regarding good and evil, and light and darkness, etc. I've been wanting to explore that more, just one of those things that I have said I would get to someday...and then a few mornings ago, I couldn't stop thinking about that phrase about the smoke of their torment, which then got me thinking about it's opposite, the prayers of the saints.

Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Rev 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

The prayers of all the saints are rising from the fire on the golden altar before the throne of God. The angel takes some of that fire that the prayers are rising up from, puts it into a censer, and throws it into the earth! And these verses come just before the 7 angels with 7 trumpets are introduced.

That fire brings this to mind:

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Again we see that contrasting of “us” and “them”. They speak evil of the name of Christ, but the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us and we glorify His name! The fiery trials that cause the world to curse, causes us to rejoice, because we can pray, and call upon His name, and He rescues us from our time of trouble, and this brings to mind another phrase regarding “them”:

“There but by the grace of God go I”

For anyone who has doubts about there being a hell, I would recommend reading this link.

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More links:

 http://www.gracegems.org/Miller/sweet_fragrance_of_prayer.htm

 http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Prayer/prayer.html

 http://apprising.org/2011/03/08/the-endlessness-of-hell/

This next link touches on opposites as contrasted in scripture, as well as some interesting thoughts on symbolism:

 http://home.comcast.net/~pastorbob/adultssclass/biblicalmotifs/bmtwo.html

This next one comes with a huge disclaimer, in that, I appreciate the list of opposites from the book of Revelation that is given on this page, but the website promotes "Bible codes" which I have heard is not a good thing (and am inclined to think it probably isn't, but having not fully researched what this site has to say about it so I cannot truly say anything except to "test all things" and pray). Therefore, if you'd like to look at this list here is the link, please do so prayerfully:

http://www.bible-codes.org/letters-contrast-devil-beast-lamb-God.htm

Bible links to what is known about the traits of being saved vs. the unrighteous:

 http://www.godswordforyou.com/bible-studies/developing-christian-community/593

Contrasting the old and new covenants:

http://www.bibletruths.net/archives/BTAR182.htm

How Deep Does God's Grace Reach?

image link (be sure to check out this link)

Or an alternate title for this post is:

Quit Trying and Trust

How deep is my sin? How deep is your sin? God's love and grace and forgiveness reaches as deep, and deeper than that!


Kent Clark is my pastor. My dear hubby and I found him through Sermon Audio, and have had the fortune of being able to visit his congregation a couple of times to hear him in person. He teaches about God's grace...and only that...Grace, Grace, Grace... and you'd think that would get tiresome and repetitive, but it isn't. God's grace is glorious, amazing, and so much greater than your sin or mine. It IS all about God's grace.

In the following Sermon Audio selection, Kent preaches on an introduction into the 5 points of Calvinism, about our sin, the complete horror of how deep and terrible and disgusting to God our sin is, how it reaches even into and beyond our genetics, and therefore SALVATION is ALL ABOUT HIS GRACE, and has nothing to do with any of our ability to do anything. We cannot even look up without HIS GRACE. His strength is what strengthens us. His glory empowers us. His mercy forgives and reaches out to us.

Check my pastor out here:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=222121111157

Isn't God's grace AMAZING?

More Than Dreams

Just saw this on CBN website, and have viewed these stories before, they are beautifully done, and tell a few of the stories of how Jesus is touching some Muslims to bring them to understanding the truth about Himself. You can see the full videos online, and recommend them very highly:

http://www.morethandreams.org/index.html

It's a Pity

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The way I see the word "pity" used these days brings up an image of someone who disdains the unfortunate by having a haughtiness while looking down at other people's misfortune.  I've often seen it used in such a way, and also that it is wrong (politically incorrect) to pity other people's misfortunes, that to feel pity is somehow demeaning. More and more it seems that it is more acceptable to be cold and unfeeling rather than to feel pity.

Merriam Webster's definition of the word "pity":

1. sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy b : capacity to feel pity

2. something to be regretted <it's a pity you can't go>

1. She has had a hard life and deserves your pity.
2. I felt deep pity for the lost dog.
3. He didn't live to see his daughter grow up, and that's a pity.

I think God pities us, I think Jesus pitied Jerusalem when He wept (see link for image above).  I think the word "pity" has become distorted just as the word "charity" (God's perfect love) has devolved to now mean giving your cast aways and left overs to the poor. 

I think it would be good if we all felt a good dose of pity for the weak, the perishing, and the lost. Did "pity" get a bad rap because of "Mr. T"?

Mr. T

Love Your Enemies

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Mat 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

I think  we've all heard preaching on this topic, from the Beatitudes, and the story of the good Samaritan. But can we be honest a moment? Who of us actually loves those who are nasty and cruel and hateful towards ourselves? I get a failing grade here. It's easy to be a "good Christian" to those who are nice, and who treat us with love and respect. Not so much with that other kind of person, the ones who would spit in your face given half a chance.

God has tested me over and over on this one, and I fail each time.

In another situation, Jesus disciples asked Him:

 Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?



 and I take comfort in Jesus' answer (I know this isn't a salvation issue....):

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Praying for Lucy Part 2

After being in a coma for 5 days, she came out of the coma last Monday (they thought it might be meningitis with fevers topping 104 F!), and here she is today!

AWESOME! 

THANK YOU JESUS!

Nancy Missler

(these diagrams might be from Watchman Nee see this link
but if I remember correctly Nancy's thoughts on this topic were very similar........)

I mentioned in a comment on Leslie's blog that I enjoyed a Bible study by Nancy Missler, Chuck Missler's wife. Chuck had it (at one time) on his website in audio format (I believe? I know I had originally heard it in the audio format, but it is possible that he had it in written form only, it was quite a while ago). I tried to find it, but now they only have it available for sale on Nancy's own website she entitled "The King's Highway".

However, I did find a site that takes apart Nancy's Bible study, and gives reasons why Nancy is completely wrong in her thoughts on most things Biblical. It's long...I plan to read it, from what I remember, I thought Nancy had a very good study, but I was a new baby in Christ at the time, so I am interested in revisiting this and see where she (and I) possibly had it wrong. :)

Anyway, a few things to keep us busy and praying about :)

Praying for Lucy

Lucy

Please pray for beautiful precious Lucy, who has been fighting a rare form of brain cancer, medulloblastoma, since February 2011.

This is the first post after the diagnosis in 2/11:

http://erikandkatekrull.blogspot.com/2011/02/in-blink-of-eye.html

What is strange is that the term "blink of an eye" (actually twinkle of the eye, but both forms really) has been on my mind lately, in it's Dutch form: Ogenblik...I've been having the nudge to post on that term, which in Dutch means THIS moment, at least that is how my mom always used that term, to refer to the present moment in time: "op het ogenblik" (at the present moment).

This is where Lucy is today, "op het ogenblik":

http://erikandkatekrull.blogspot.com/

This term is also used in the Bible when the Apostle Paul tells us about the moment we will see Jesus:

 1Co 15:51  Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54  When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

in Dutch:

51 Ziet, ik zeg u een verborgenheid: wij zullen wel niet allen ontslapen, maar wij zullen allen veranderd worden;

52 In een punt des tijds, in een ogenblik, met de laatste bazuin; want de bazuin zal slaan, en de doden zullen onverderfelijk opgewekt worden, en wij zullen veranderd worden.

53 Want dit verderfelijke moet onverderfelijkheid aandoen, en dit sterfelijke moet onsterfelijkheid aandoen.

54 En wanneer dit verderfelijke zal onverderfelijkheid aangedaan hebben, en dit sterfelijke zal onsterfelijkheid aangedaan hebben, alsdan zal het woord geschieden, dat geschreven is: De dood is verslonden tot overwinning.

55 Dood, waar is uw prikkel? Hel, waar is uw overwinning?

No Arms, No Legs, No Worries Mate!

Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs. He tried to take his life when he was eight years old, but found that he couldn't do it. He realized that God had a plan for his life, and allows the Lord to use him to inspire others. :)

Food

This blog is mostly for Biblical/inspirational posts....but food can be inspiring, and Jesus often used food as symbols for His spiritual messages, because He is about growing us healthy and mature and strong in our spirit in ways that nourish our spirit just as food nourishes our bodies. If you look to your right side of the screen you will find lots of my links, and toward the bottom there are links to sites that have to do with mostly cooking, and some that have to do with organizing and creative stuff for the home. One of the links is for the Big Red Kitchen. Hope you'll check some of these places out :) Recently (today) I see that Big Red Kitchen now has a Youtube channel! Yay! Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/bigredkitchen

Ok, maybe Bananas Foster isn't what you would eat for nourishment, but I am inspired to try this recipe...hopefully I won't catch my place on fire! :)

Seeds

Link to photo

1 Corinthians 15:35-50 (NIV)

There is someone that is near and dear to me that is approaching her final days in her mortality. When I visited with her recently, I was reading 1 Corinthians and when I got to the above passage, the words it spoke rang out to me so clearly.

This body is only a dying shell, the hull for something the Lord is doing inside of us while we are yet here. It is the outer chrysalis that the caterpillar is being transformed into something different, away from fleshy eyes, that can only be viewed with “the eyes of the spirit” (those who have eyes to see). I often forget that, and place so much importance on the things that are dust and vanishing away.

Verse 37: When you sow (a seed) you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as He has determined, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.

Just like a butterfly looks nothing like the caterpillar that was before that miraculous transformation, so we too will be nothing like our former selves, which will have died literally and completely. The resurrection body will be a complete redo, not just a makeover. The whole thing will be torn down, and something new will be made with all new materials. The Spirit seed that was planted inside this dying hull will be what causes the transformation.

Verse 58: Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I remember being very young, looking at a Dutch magazine. There were 9 pictures (very nicely done artworks) of a little girl planting a seed into a terracotta pot filled with rich black earth in the first picture. The next 7 pictures show the child intently gazing at the pot for any sign of growth, and with each succeeding picture she seems to grow more frustrated and impatient, until in the final picture she has dug up the seed, dirt is all over the counter, and the young lady is holding the seed between her dirty thumb and forefinger, examining it for any sign of growth.

That's me.

I am so impatient in regards to my own and other people's spiritual condition, and have an unnecessary impulse to look for any sign of growth or change. God is doing something, He promised He would. It is something that defies our earthly understanding and impulses. It is miraculous and wonderful. It is something I want to see right now, but “digging up the seed” only retards the process. I have to trust, and rest, and rely on Jesus, and know that He will keep all of His promises IN HIS TIME, and all my trying to see how and why and when only causes me to take my gaze off of the WHO.

 Jesus.

He is sufficient, and the rest He has promised to already have taken care of, and will be revealed in His time.

(The verses in this post have all been from the NIV version. It isn't my favorite version, but it is the version of my study Bible that I got when I worked at a Bible bookstore.... and I'll emphasize again that although it isn't my favorite version, this passage seems to come alive for me much more in the NIV than the KJV does.)

Perfection Part 3

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Mat 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Those words sound nice as the pastor reads them in front of the congregation, and everyone nods their head and smiles at the person in the next pew. And then everyone goes home, and looks with scorn on the young woman with a child out of wedlock, or the homosexual and his "partner". Easier said than done....

What does it mean, to "love your enemy"? Does it mean you agree with everything he or she says and does? Does Jesus agree with everything I say and do? I should freely exclaim that is not the case at all. Then how can I quote those verses above and say we are to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect?

I was watching a talk show while I was working out yesterday, and there was a woman and her daughter who had lost another daughter because the daughter's ex-boyfriend and his new fiance murdered her viciously. The mother and brother of the fiance was on the set of this program, sitting quite a distance apart from the mother and daughter. They also connected by video to the fiance daughter/sister at her prison where they say she will be for the next 18 years. The fiance said she was sorry. Honestly, she didn't truly seem sorry to me, and her words still sounded like she didn't feel like it was her fault. On this show they described how she participated in the murder. They described how she joined the all day vigils while they were searching for her, and helped in the searches. The mother and daughter told of their heartfelt anger and their doubt in the truth of the sorrow and asking for forgiveness because the fiance's mom never apologized until the time of this broadcast, and that the boy's mom and dad immediately came to her to say how terribly sorry they were. The mom, brother, and fiance had ugly looks on their faces, and were not attractive to begin with. It was easy to dislike them, and think "They aren't sorry! They are guilty as sin and are not a bit sorry...but somehow just want to get sympathy for their terrible daughter/sister" ...and then I remember the parable:


Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Mat 18:23  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

I might be able to fake it....but if I were that mom or that sister, I confess that I would have a really hard time forgiving that girl and her family. It came out (and she denies it) that she was the primary instigator in the murder. She did not want the girl alive because she thought her fiance might still have feelings for her and wanted the ultimate proof that he no longer loved her. But she is asking for forgiveness, regardless of how terrible the circumstances and how much we may dislike her, she is looking for forgiveness....and so thinking on the words of Jesus, and the impossibility of my own fleshy reaction to this situation, I would ask, as His disciples asked Him in another situation:

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 

and the answer from Jesus:

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

I have my people that I am struggling with to forgive. They have not asked for my forgiveness, but should that stop me from having a forgiving heart?  Does that mean what they did wasn't wrong? Does it mean that I agree with what they did and accept the wrongs as right? No. It just simply means that I know what they did was wrong, and I let it go to God, and say with Jesus: "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do"

Rest

 Someone caught me resting

( at a coffee shop during a recent trip to London, England, lol)

Just finished listening to a wonderful sermon on the topic of the sabbath rest spoken of in the book of Hebrews. It is something I have struggled with, and it showed up ("it" being my struggle, that is) by how I would argue with people who have a legalistic bent toward sabbath-keeping, and the reason for my struggle I believe is partly due to the fact that I had encountered problems early on in my life due to situations arising from our family involvement in the SDA church when I was young. Anyway, I hope you can make time for this one:

 "A Rest for God's People," Hebrews 4.1-10

In This World You Will Have Trouble

Today I met a patient who was in his early forties and was very worried that the illness he is experiencing will lead to his early death. He was very scared. I prayed for words and said:

 "Jesus said in this world you will have trouble", and He was right. Whenever you have trouble you can say "Jesus, You were right".

 Also I was reminded, and so reminded this young man, that we are not owed anything. God does not owe us tomorrow. We didn't even deserve to be born in the first place. How could we deserve something before even ever having been born??? He admitted that is true, and that He is always reading the Bible to try to find out what he needs to know. I told him that I know that I'm not thankful enough, that we must always be thankful for His forgiveness and His kindness toward us. He agreed :)

Next time I find myself in terrible circumstances, I hope I will also remember that Jesus told us that "in this world you (I) will have trouble". Thankfully, it is temporary, just like everything else is in this world. While we are here we too are temporary, but Jesus promised us a better future in a permanent home with Him. Halleluja!

Perfection Part 2

 Link

See  "Perfection" (part 1)

A favorite saying of mine is: "We are all wrong about something". There was a time that I felt it important to argue a point to death if I knew I was right and the other person wrong, that the Lord desired me to do so, that it is THE WAY that I can make sure that I make the truth known to all men and women who cross my path....but is that truly the way the Lord wants me to handle the truth? And even if I'm 100% sure I am right, and the other person wrong, doesn't the Bible say that my heart is deceitful above all things?

Jeremiah 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

So how do I know for sure that perhaps I am deceiving myself on this point that I think I have a corner on the truth about?

And then there's this one:

Romans 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Ouch! Well that shoe pinches a bit. "Be not wise in your own conceits" indeed! I've visited blogs where it seems the blogger thinks he/she has it most right, and everyone who doesn't agree is against God Himself....and like I said, I've been there (I say this to my shame). I honestly felt that if I didn't set people straight, that I was not doing my Christian duty.

Ok, I know I won't convince anyone else of what they should or shouldn't do, however I do know Someone who can, in His time, and all He asks of me is to watch and to pray, and to pray especially for my enemies. He also asks me to make sure I have my spiritual house in order (not other people's). If I can help others, such as showing them some kindness, any kind of wrongdoing will convict their own conscience by the Lord's doing it in a way and  a time He knows is best. I guess that truly is a better way than arguing all the time. ;-)

The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence Part 3

 Link to image this link dovetails very nicely with

this topic, be sure to check it out :)

See "The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence" (Part 1)
and "The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence" (Part 2)

This next part is something I'm currently having a huge struggle with, and the Lord has been very graciously working on me about it:

Excerpt from my (previously mentioned) book:

"I earnestly beg my children to be tolerant and humble to all, as I was throughout my life. Should cause for dissension arise, be slow to accept the quarrel. Seek peace and pursue it with all the vigor at your command. Even if you suffer loss thereby, forbear and forgive, for God has many ways of feeding and sustaining His creatures. To the slanderer do not retaliate with counter-attack; and though it be proper to rebut false accusations, yet is it most desirable to set an example of reticence. You yourselves must avoid uttering any slander, for so will you win affection. In trade be honest, never grasping at what belongs to another. For by avoing these wrongs--scandal, falsehood, money-grubbing--men will surely find tranquility and affection. And against all evils, silence is the best safeguard."

This portion: Even if you suffer loss thereby, forbear and forgive, for God has many ways of feeding and sustaining His creatures. Is something that God has been impressing on my resisting heart lately as something I need to understand and trust that it isn't as serious as I'm making it, and that I need to be at peace and trust Him with everything. I still want to take things into my own hands and right all the wrongs (perceived and true) in my life, instead of watching and praying. 

And against all evils, silence is the best safeguard. I have such a tough time with that one. Remember the saying: "Evil triumphs when good men say nothing"??? sigh. It goes so contrary to what I think I must do (i.e. yell at wrongdoers at the top of my lungs so they will be embarrassed for their wrongdoing and repent from their evil ways, sheesh). Yeah, ok, that hasn't worked yet...there's another saying:

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence Part 2

Link

The above looks exactly like my treasured volume :)

Eleazar's ethical will is a much better inheritance to leave posterity than earthly booty. Here is another excerpt:

These are the things which my sons and daughters shall do at my request. They shall go to the house of prayer morning and evening...So soon as the service is over, they shall occupy themselves a little with the Torah, the Psalms, or with works of charity. Their business must be conducted honestly whether in dealings with Jew or Gentile. They must be courteous in their manners, and prompt to agree to every honorable request. They must not talk more than is necessary; by this will they be saved from slander, falsehood, and frivolity. They shall give an exact tithe of all their possessions. They shall never turn away a poor man empty-handed, but must give him what they can, be it much or little. If he beg a night's lodging, and they know him not, let them provide him with the wherewithal to pay an inn-keeper. Thus shall they satisfy the needs of the poor in every possible way...

The first sentence above reminds me of the 5th commandment to honor thy father and thy mother. This father requests alot from his children, many of the things listed above remind me of the Apostle Paul's admonitions to his spiritual children.

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 

The counsel to provide lodging for those who need it reminds me of the story of the good Samaritan.  These are very high aspirations. When I see a homeless man my first thought is not to try to provide him safe lodging for the night. I certainly could not bring men off the street to sleep in my apartment, being a woman who lives alone. But I certainly could do more than I do. I think it is something that churches as a whole should work on being better at working together to provide shelter and clothing to the poor like the early NT churches did, and not leave it up to the government to do because they do a very slip-shod job of it, and it should never have come to this. When the church is truly doing their job they help the person back on their feet to do for themselves ASAP, and not live sucking the life and resources out of others.

2Th 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2Th 3:11  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
2Th 3:12  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
2Th 3:13  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2Th 3:15  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The above excerpt from Eleazar's will also reminds me of the counsel found here.


Jer 9:24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Babylon

There are many that believe Babylon refers to Rome and that the Whore spoken of in the book of Revelation is speaking of the Roman Catholic religion. I used to think this was so when I was associated with the SDA religion. They teach this dogmatically as true. Now I see that Babylon refers to a much broader satanic system that stands against everything that is of God, and that the whore which rides the beast is any religious system that takes away from the worship of the true Lord and Savior of our souls, subtly deflecting it in ways that turn it into a religion of myths and legends, and ways to make oneself holy through self efforts, and that it permeates the spiritual arena of this world, and that the only escape is through Jesus Himself; the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I really enjoy the series "Know Your Enemy". This one is about Babylon:

Also see related info from "Know Your Enemy" series about Semiramis/Jezebel on Flutterby's

The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence Part 1

Image Link

I had mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I would post about Eleazar's ethical will. Then I went "on vacation" to be with family, during which time someone said and did some things that offended me very deeply regarding an aunt who passed during this vacation, and a very intimate piece of my mom's personal property which this person extracted for herself, so it is interesting how the timing of this post is so appropriate to something I'm dealing with in real life right at this point in time. It is forcing me to remember that this world and all of the things in it are not really mine, they are on loan from the Lord. The personal slights against me and my family from anyone outside of our family circle, are temporary as well, and I am to pray for my enemies. Much easier said than done.

A couple of years ago, I bid on and won the purchase of a box of books which included several treasures, one of which was the "Bar Mitzvah Treasury" edited by Azriel Eisenberg. The book contains several short essays and was compiled for the goal of preparing a young man with the wisdom gleaned from several sources and from a time span which reaches across the ages. This particular essay, "Eleazar of Mayence Leaves a Will" concerns the second will (the first will dealing with tangible property and money) that people used to leave for generations to follow theirs. The introduction to this piece of literature states:

There was a time when people prepared two wills, to be read after their death. One was a distribution of money and property. The other was a testament on living as a man and as a Jew. Eleazar of Mayence, an ordinary Jew, wrote his "ethical will" about six hundred years ago, embodying ideas far ahead of the medieval thinking of the "dark ages". How well do you think it applies today?

There are several bits of excellent advice in this short submission. In this post I'll touch on one that I have trouble with, and would do well to follow this sage advice. I find myself often exclaiming "Oh my God!" or ""Geez" (short for Jesus), and feel a twinge of guilt each time, but pass it off as "It is good to say the name of God", while another part of me wonders if I'm taking the name of the Lord in vain...This is what Eleazar had to say on this topic:


Be on your guard concerning vows, and cautious as to promises. The breach of one's undertakings leads to many lapses. Do not get into the habit of exclaiming "God!" but speak always of the "Creator, Blessed be He"; and in all that you propose to do, today or tomorrow, add the proviso, "If the Lord wills, I shall do this thing." Thus remember God's part in your life.

Mat 5:33  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mat 5:35  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Beautiful :-)

 Repost because I edited to update the video...the old one was removed (because the user removed his/her account, not because Youtube censored it) This song still gives me goosebumps! :)

Charles Wesley wrote this, and although he was an Arminian (gasp!), he sure wrote an awesome hymn!

Vacation...sort of...

I will be gone for a couple of weeks so I won't be blogging (will go through massive withdawals, I'm sure) Hope everyone has a blessed time during this time, every time I go through withdrawals I will be thinking of you all and directing those thoughts to Jesus. :)

Joy

When I first wake up in the morning I usually look, and feel, my worst. If I were to see myself the way others would see me I'm sure I would scare myself to near death. And the thoughts that go through my head (!!!): grumble, grumble, grumble; this or that aches, I'm too cold, I'm too hot, I've gotta do __________ (before leaving for work)...and this morning was no different. It is so much a part of my morning "me" that I don't even notice it. This morning, I was made very aware of it.

When I got up this morning, it was the usual.

Thoughts that jumble in my brain:

1. about something that has been a thorn at my side at work

2. the thoughts meander to the fact that I don't have a joyful demeanor, and  I  think on that, that people should see me endure things better than I do, that I shouldn't be so grumpy. One day last week one of the girls (my daughter's age, well a little younger actually) told me "You shouldn't be so mean"....really? Me? Mean? I kinda blew it off because I really couldn't see it.

3. so my thoughts, still sorting through this stuff and trying to justify myself, thought "well when tshtf I will have been exercised and strengthened by all the B.S. enough so that when others are terrified I will be at peace, maybe even joyful"

and then this thought entered into my thoughts (believe me when I say that I know my thoughts in the morning and they do not reflect that which entered into them, to my sorrow and shame, and I pray that the Lord will continue to work with me on that):

"THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH"

That appears only once in the Bible. It occurs when the book of the law is read to the people, and they cry because of their conviction of their errors and sins, and Nehemiah tells them not to cry:

 Neh 8:8  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Neh 8:9  And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Neh 8:10  Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; 
 for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

I don't believe the Lord wants us to be fake "Pollyannas" who put on a happy face to pretend everything is wonderful, all-the-while pushing down our anger, despair, hopelessness, etc. I believe He wants us to have His joy that is in Him truly, a joy that is founded on Him and strengthened by Him.

I only get little glimpses of that joy. I think the main reason for this  is because of the fact that I often forget to count my blessings and to be grateful for what He has done and continues to do for me.

The last few days I've been reading a little book (which I got from Ebay when I purchased a whole box full of books for about $60 dollars a couple of years ago, what a treasure of books I received!!!) entitled: "Bar Mitzvah Treasury: The Jewish Heritage as Set Down in Story, Legend & Essay". Each short chapter is simply delightful. The chapter that is titled "Eleazar of Mayence Leaves a Will" is wonderful, full of excellent advice that I need to prayerfully ask the Lord to help me incorporate these valuable gems into my every day life.

I hope to later give some excerpts from this wonderful will...or if anyone has more information about the ethical will of Eleazar of Mayence, (a link to this would be wonderful!) please do share!

Sharing Some Links :)

Taking a cue from Fishhawk (Jerry Beuterbaugh) by sharing some interesting blogs that I've come across, and hoping we each expand our blogosphere, to touch and learn about others, what we think, what we do, what we'd like to share, hurts, dreams, and maybe a bit of wisdom now and again :)
Disclaimer: just because I visit and read and like the blogs doesn't mean I agree with everything that is written there, just so you know...I never ever (should I be so absolute?) agree with ANYONE 100% of the time, unless we are talking about Jesus...but sadly, in my fleshy moments I disagree with Him, well, not disagree exactly, but I think that I am wrong at times and that WOULD put me at variance with Jesus...hopefully you know what I mean...anyway, maybe you can enjoy a little meandering through the blogosphere with me ;)

The Santos Times

From the Quill Tip

Princess Warrior Lessons

Three Kids, a Mini-Van and a Mortgage

A Faithful Narrative of a Life in Christ

A Prairie Princess

Well, it's getting late, so I've got to go to sleep and leave this little excursion...well, not leave, put it on pause is a better way to put it...to be continued later :) Hope you enjoy these, and get to find some new friends far and near. Maybe you can help to ease some pain, dry a tear, share a laugh or two, a word of encouragement reaped or sown, a hug from one end of the net to the other....yes our words and our arms really can reach that far! :D

Conversations With Jesus Part 3

Recently there has been a bit of a disagreement on DebbieLynne's blog about the topic of whether Jesus actually communicates with His saints in ways other than (through divine intervention of His Holy Spirit)  through hearing His voice from the pages of His book, the Bible, and then only during the time while one is reading.

To give a bit of personal background, I have never been in the "Charismatic movement", and what little I have seen and heard from them directed me away from their forms of worship and teaching. I did come from a very legalistic upbringing, then married a Mormon and was involved in that cult for a few years, and then out of that frying pan into the fires of the New Age Movement, out of which the Lord Jesus by His mercy saved me.

DebbieLynne maintains (as many people do) that Jesus does not talk to people in any other way except through His book only during the moments we are actually reading, and to say that He speaks to us in our spirit at other times, is not only inaccurate (or downright false) but very dangerous and misleading, and causes one to only depend on oneself and one's own feelings, etc.

I admit (and also admitted to DebbieLynne) that there are many persons with false agendas who write books to make money that have come up with all kinds of schemes to manipulate God into speaking to us in any way possible, and they are often those who are influenced by pagan types of mysticism and false worship. However, one must be careful when trying to avoid the false, to not thereby go to the opposite extreme and call anything that might have a faint resemblance to the false also false (thereby "throwing out the baby with the bathwater", as the saying goes).

There always is that danger of when trying to avoid something that we know is wrong, of then going to the opposite end of that spectrum in order to avoid making the same mistake. If, however, by doing so, one then blocks out the Holy Spirit's promptings, or even worse, call His promptings "satanic deceptions", we have a problem.

Mar 3:22  And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
Mar 3:23  And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
Mar 3:24  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mar 3:25  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Mar 3:26  And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
Mar 3:27  No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
Mar 3:28  Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mar 3:29  But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mar 3:30  Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

Yes, I have seen the above verses used by charismatic "healers" to hide behind, but truly God will judge them, and we have no need to be fearful because of them, and then avoid the above counsel because it will then make us like them. The above counsel IS in the Bible, and Jesus did have it there for a reason. There is a warning there about attributing what is given by God  to the devil. Let us instead be discerning, and thankful to God, for His goodness, and His mercy, and His Holy Spirit who leads us and teaches us. He is not limited in how He chooses to interact with us, His sheep, who hear His voice, and are called by His name. He doesn't require us to do any "quiet listening rituals" or whatever, to hear Him.

Joh 10:25  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
Joh 10:26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 

Joh 14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Joh 14:25  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.



I'll try not to make this a "hobbyhorse issue" of mine. ;)