What I am about to say may surprise you… but according to Google, while 66% of Americans say they are Christians, only 20% of them believe in the written word…The Holy Bible! So, I ask you, as a follower of Christ Jesus, are you also counted among the 20% who apologize for not embracing God’s holy word as to how the Beginning came about in Chapter 1 of Genesis.

In other words, please pounder this question…”Are you shooting the wounded or healing the sick?”

STOP, young man, in the name of love. And, you, young lady…don’t take your foot off yet.

Always remember that before witnessing to others, whisper a little prayer toward heaven and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the message that would be pleasing to God. Perhaps you may want to memorize what the Bible says about ‘offenses’ against others: “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Matt. 18:5, 6). And again, Scripture says, “If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. (Matt. 18:8)

It’s easy for a Believer in God to publish the fact that the God they serve is a loving God and would not visit such a harsh punishment on one of his followers. But what a person forgets is that God is a just god and the faith he requires is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. And God has made us so many other promises, too, and has forgiven mankind’s act of disobedience while in the Garden of Eden, that if mankind does not have faith enough to believe in his Son Jesus Christ, then, all is lost.

So, when witnessing to others why not exercise your faith and err on the side of caution. Only speak the truth concerning heavenly things. Trust in Christ and avoid taking risks concerning things you do not understand. Trust in the Lord and the power of His might. And lean on His understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Amen and Amen!

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Before going any further, I want you to do something. Make an evaluation. Take one minute to block everything else from your mind and whisper out loud how this picture makes you feel.

I’ll go first. My first impression was…wow, somebody has not watered this plant. But after I glanced back up at the title I exclaimed, OOPS! That somebody is me. It was my responsibility to water and to cultivate the plant. (The plant is my Body)

I am the vine, the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear and you, Ms, Blogger, are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.

Those 2 balls of fruit look like they are going to drop off that vine any minute. I thought, maybe, just maybe that is why Jesus cursed the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-14. Jesus was hungry and the fig tree had no fruit on it. (Bible scholars say the absence of fruit represents slothful Judahites who were not serving, believing nor following Jesus Christ. Jesus was extremely weary of the peoples’ conduct and He reacted.)

Put your thinking caps back on people. That’s what I did. So the first action I took was to turn off my television and get my Bible and Sunday School book out. I also called a few friends who were under the weather. One of them displayed anger towards me, but I bit my bottom lip and just let her rave and roar until she realized how silently I received her scolding. I could see, feel and hear the love in her voice and thanked God for our friendship over these many years. All was forgiven.

Since God is our source, why not hold on to what He is offering…salvation through his Son, Christ Jesus. For without Him, we can do nothing. We must remain in Him. God’s statues teaches us how to live and Jesus, through the Holy Spirit teaches us how to produce crops. Don’t forget we come from good soil from the Garden of Eden.

So truly, we are to respect the Son of God. And when we fall short, just pick yourself up, brush yourself off and remember to say a little prayer for me and someone else. Because He is everything to us.

Get ready to pat your foot, smile and be happy. Click “the red title below, “Everything to Me”.

“Everything To Me” Worship Song- RESPECT (February 2023)
YouTube · Pierce Kids2.1K+ views · 2 years ago

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Did you know that developing meaningful relationships is what Christianity is all about. So, to please God, first, let us identify Whom we must use as a model to imitate. It goes without saying that when most people become ‘saved,’ baptized, a church goer and advocate of biblical teachings, they already have cultivated several people relationships. Fear, criticism and alienation may now set in because some of your current acquaintances may not be church members nor church goers.

The question is…How do you make any necessary changes among your running mates. The answer is simple…you must Re-cultivate those old relationships using Christ-like examples.

FOLLOW THIS SUCCESSFUL "MINDFULNESS" MEDITATION EXERCISE:

Breathing is very important, so, concentrate on your breathing.  Move into a comfortable position whether seated in a chair, on a couch reclining or seated.  Exercise your face muscles, do not grit your teeth nor frown.  Just concentrate on breathing deep and slowly.  Feel your lungs and stomach rise as you breathe inward through your nose and deflate as you exhale through your nose. (This begining exercise takes practice.) 

Notice any place of body tension or tightness.  Now this may sound strange, but think about those areas, concentrate on them and quietly give them permission to just relax.  You may be lead to send up a thanksgiving prayer for your body taking such good care of you.  Do not let any other subjects enter your thought process.  If your mind should wander, just bring it back and focus on your breathing.

After about 15 minutes of body preparation, you should be ready to begin your Bible study time.  Read one or two chapters at the beginning.  Always have paper and pen available.  Write down first thoughts, questions, and the Bible chapter and verses you read.  Always close with a silent prayer of thanksgiving.

CONFESSION TIME:

I have tried and taught everything I have blogged for you to do during my relationship with the Lord.  I can truthfully say this procedure works and continues to work.  In the coming weeks, I will share other exercises for you to try as you grow in grace and in the Lord.  Let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to respond with biblical answers.

I truly love the Lord because He heard my cry and pitied every groan.  As long as I live, when trouble arises, I'll hasten to His throne.

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“In this case, what they don’t know…wont hurt them.” The Holy Spirit whispered those words to me as I contemplated writing this blog. The mere thought of revealing this unabashed secret to the visitors of this blog site gave me joy unspeakable.

Did you know that in your daily dialect and communications with friends, relatives and other folks, you are often quoting scripture? Who would have guessed that the expressions below all derive from the Bible’s Old Testament Books of Job and Proverbs. (Two of the so-defined poetry books in the Bible,)

“Jesus paid it all…all to Him I owe.” (*)Colossians 2:13-14)

NOW, LET’S BREAK IT DOWN…

Have you ever advised or counseled a friend, relative, spouse or total stranger that if things do not change for the better in their household, a house divided will not stand. Proverbs 11:29 says it a bit firmer…”He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only the wind.”

The writer of the Book of Matthew relates what Jesus had to say on this same subject: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” When witnessing to others about the power of God, a person can gingerly introduce this bit of wisdom and perhaps help to rekindle a broken relationship.

Let’s now talk about escaping an inherent danger “by the skin of one’s teeth.” Did you know that the Old Testament Book of Job has a number of colorful expressions that recite the miseries Job encountered at the hands of God. Much of the descriptions used by Job to relate his sufferings are hard to decipher. Let’s look at Proverbs 19:20 for example. Job says he has become so emaciated that ‘my bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.” (In other words, Job believes he has barely escaped death.)

How many times have you, too, used this proverb to dramatize a scary event that has happened to you…”escaped by the skin of your teeth.” I’ve used that expression hundreds of times, especially if a crazy motorist cuts me off in traffic. I only wish I had thought to use the above intro when witnessing to a young convert. I could have referenced Job and what he went through at the hand of God. God will use many different people to show others how to keep the faith during sun shinny and rainy days.

The last expression I want to tell you about is why almost every generation has an opinion as to when “the ends of the earth” will happen. In ancient cultures and especially in the Israelites culture, they thought it was obvious that since the world was believed to be flat, it must have limits. The Old Testament scriptures are full of references concerning the ‘ends of the earth”. The Israelites found credence in the Book of Job 37:3 where God is said to “directeth his lightning unto the ends of the earth.”

So, now in today’s society, in order to sound biblical and because God used verbiage directing his lightning to extend as far as the ends of the earth, we, dramatize our emphatic statements by adding…until the ends of the earth. (Actual meaning: for ever and ever!)

My Personal prayer of thanksgiving to God…

Dear Heavenly Father, Mighty God, Rose of Sharon, and King of Glory: Your humble servant and daughter of Abraham enters your presence in all humility. For I see and surely am a witness to the unadulterated truth that Christ Jesus is now and always will be the Son of God. You, my God, sanctioned Jesus to be nailed to the cross along with all of mankind’s sins and misdeeds. Only believe is the edit you placed on humankind. Jesus’ life was shed for all who were born in sin. His unselfish sacrifice afforded everyone to a right to the Tree of Life. All we have to do is believe in Him and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God! Hear and receive my prayer is my plea, Amen and Amen.

(*) NOTE: Colossians 2:13-14: “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

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---

Did you know that in the Beginning, (As the world turned!) God used divine craftiness and glorified ingenuity to create ‘existence‘. OKAY…SO, THAT WAS A MOUTH FULL! LET’S FAST FORWARD.

OOOOOPS! Oh, boy! Now I have to prove it! I’ve been wrestling with this subject all week end! Finally, the Holy Spirit said enough already! Your problem is that you are hung up on semantics. The meaning of a word. You have asked yourself a million times, ‘What’s divine craftiness and glorified ingenuity got to do with anything?”

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SUBJECT….“Divine craftiness”

1 SAMUEL 21:13

The desires of a growing Christian to eventually become the ‘apple’ of God’s eye does not always mean that he or she has to be first in line all the time. What I mean by that is you should bide your time. Be still and know that listening, affirming, growing in grace and working peaceably with others helps to keep worms from manifesting into your apple.

Let’s take young David for instance. Prior to becoming the second king of Israel, this budding young fellow often feigned divine craftiness. When David needed protection from Achish the king of Gath (Goliath’s country), he used divine craftiness by feigning insanity and weakness. This deception helped to save his life and to live for another day.

MATTHEW 5:16

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Always keep your light on. Keep spare batteries in your draw. Stand before a full length mirror and practice smiling with your eyes, teeth, forehead, etc., etc., etc., you get the picture. Kiss the air!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SUBJECT….“Glorified Ingenuity“

May I suggest you read the Story of Ruth in the Old Testament…especially Chapters 3 and 4. In those two chapters, Naomi, the Mother-in-law of Ruth (both women are widows) comes up with a brilliant idea.God eventually blesses the idea and makes things happen for the good. Scripture reveals that not only is history made, but a precious little baby is born that will soon change the whole world. Read it and weep!

IN CONCLUSION:

Dear Lord Jesus: I thank You for Who You are. I glorify Who You are. And I praise You for Your kind mercies I receive each morning. This week has been a most challelnging one as I tried to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. So thank You very much for the promise that You are with me…that You are my refuge and a shelter for me. Thank You for making it possible for me to be calm in the midst of trouble and to acknowledge that You and You alone are God.

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Did you know that God (the Father of Jesus Christ) used semantics when He allowed Eugene H. Peterson to interpret all of the New Testament into a contemporary language and redefined it as THE MESSAGE BIBLE! You will notice that I give credit to Mr. Petersen’s creative interpretation but not to his revised explanation of the verses. And that is because, God is still (and always will be) the author and finisher of His Holy Word!

The initial genius of the Message Bible in the New Testament translation begins with Matthew 5:3 which reads…”You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his [kingdom*] rule.”

The New International Version (NIV) reads: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:3

Were you capable of denoting the semantic phrase? “…you’re at the end of your rope”. That sentence replaced ‘poor in spirit’ with a description mankind would instantly relate to. The Holy Spirit has assured me that God knew His Holy Bible would be translated into many specific contexts. He knew it would serve as a way of God’s revelation. And that was alright with Him.

Hopefully, now you know the value of reading and studying God’s word in various translations. You are invited to come back next week. You will learn how to remember the definitions for two very similar words. You read about these in the New Testament: ‘Agnostic’ and ‘Gnostic’.

Composing this blog has been exciting for me. I love words…their meaning…origin…and to incorporate them into writing material that informs. So please humor me and if you are a fan of what I produce, ‘follow’ this blog post.

Your evolving traveling journalist:

(*) NOTE: [kingdom] My insertion word

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Have you ever thought of God as your permanent care taker or care giver? Well, I have. In preparation for this week’s blog, I decided to rumble through an old file folder. It was filled with copies of some of my original writings from 1983. One particular teaching lesson I had presented to the Deaconess Board Organization I was a member of caught my attention. I had given my talk a very catchy title. “What Every Deaconess Wanted To Know About Her Task, But was Afraid To Ask.”

Please allow me to share some of the information I gave this group some 41 years ago.

Lesson Number 1: “Holy Communication and Holy Communion.”

Thesis: God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! Just as He visually communicated with the Hebrew children in the wilderness, He is visually speaking to us today.

How God Communicated Yesterday:

In the olden days, God communicated with the Children of Israel by a cloud.  They all saw it, they all followed it, and they knew it was God!            Exodus 13:21

Another way God communicated with them was to supply their groceries.  He quenched their thirst with cool water from the rock.  He feed them quail meat that dropped from the sky.  He gave them a freshly baked loaf of bread every morning.               Deut. 8:15, 16 and Exodus 16:8

How God Communicates Today:

Now today, God still openly communicates with us.  How?  He has written us a Love Letter (the Bible) telling us all about His Son, Jesus.  (He wrote the letters for posterity...for all those who were not there.)

He instructed us that after we have read the letters;  digested the letters; and believe in the letters; and obey the letters;  that we perform a spiritual ritual on a periodic basis.

He ask us to take the cup and when we drink from it remember the blood His Son shed and allow this demonstration to reflect death and the resurrection.  In our thought process (by thinking on these things) we are in communication with God.

He further ask us to take the Bread, break it and eat it.  The Bread, as we know, represents Jesus' body.  We ask ourselves (or we think about) what does Jesus' body represent:

FREEDOM!!!

Freedom from sickness; freedom from sin; freedom from strife,
Freedom from financial problems; freedom from hatred; freedom 
from lustfulness; freedom from fear; freedom from want; etc.

So, we eat the bread with great expectation of becoming free just like Jesus.  And we drink the cup in anticipation of dying (resting, sleeping).  And also just like Jesus, being raised up again unto our Father.

How God Communicates With Tomorrow:

Now the controversial part is this.....Should I not partake of the Supper when I'm not feeling right with my brother, lest damnation comes upon me?

One interpretation revealed unto me by the Holy Spirit was to "take".   For in so doing, if one is truly meditating and communicating with God during the Supper, then she (he) is surely discerning the Lord's body.                                     1 Cor. 11:29

So ask your Pastor or trusted Christian friend the question:  "If I take during these times and think on those things which the Super represents (1 Cor. 11:24...as Oft as you do this, do this in Remembrance of me), expecting great things, will God set every thing else in order when He comes.      1 Cor. 11:34

My sincere Prayer for you is to allow God to be the Author and Finisher Of Your Faith. Amen

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Writing is my game, story telling is my fame, but prose and poetry are my aim. I love to enlighten and expose my readers to adventure and inspirational dialogues. So, for this week’s blog you are invited to eavesdrop on a couple’s conversation. It centers around their spiritual commitment to conduct their relationship God’s way. All scripture references were taken from the Holy Bible and set to pen by me in early February 1998.

Couple having a serious discussion on whether to become engaged or not to be engaged.

Devotional Theme:                 "But The Greatest Of These Is Love"

Scriptures:                                 Excerpts Selected From The Book of St. Matthew
                                                    Female Voice (FV)

                                                    Excerpts Selected From I Corinthians 13:1-13
                                                    Male Voice (MV)

FV:	The good man brings good things out of good stored up in him.  Matt. 12:35

MV:	(Never the less)…If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  I Cor. 13:1

FV:	I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move.  Matt. 17:20

MV:	(But, woman, have you not heard) If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing.      I Cor. 13:2

FV:	(Well) If you want to be perfect go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven.             Matt. 19:21

MV:	(Beloved) If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, I gain nothing.               I Cor. 13:3

FV:	(Then take this advice) Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.       Matt. 5:44 & 45

MV:	(Good advice, because) Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy; it does not boast it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered it keeps no record of wrongs.                         I Cor. 13:4 & 5

FV:	(Then remember, my dear) If our brother sins against you go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.                    Matt. 18:15

MV:	(Right, again) Love does not delight in evil but in truth.            I Cor. 13:6

FV:	(You exude love) You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.                                                 Matt. 5:14

MV:	(Love)…always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
                          I Cor.13:7
FV:	(Also,) You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?                           Matt. 5:13

MV:	(With love, of course!) Love never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled.           I Cor. 13:8

FV:	(You must) Therefore keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.                                          Matt. 24:42

MV: 	(Know?)…Where there is knowledge it will pass away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.              
                                I Cor. 13:8b, 9 & 10

FV:	 I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.                               Matt. 18:3

MV:	When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
                                                          I Cor. 13:11
FV:	 (You have a good eye) The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.                       Matt. 6:22

MV:	Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
                                                       I Cor. 13:12a

FV:	Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
                                                      Matt. 14:43

MV:	Now I know in part, then I shall know full, even as I am fully known.
                                                    I Cor. 13:12b

FV:	(Then know this, always) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.
                                                Matt. 22:37 & 38

MV:	And now these three remain; faith, hope and love.                  I Cor. 13:12b

FV & MV:	BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.                                        I Cor. 13:13b


-------------------THE END-----------------------

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Earlier, in my adolescent years, I began to seriously study and embrace Christianity norms. Strangely, while doing so, a soft sweet reverberating voice infiltrated my spirit. At first, I dismissed its message. Why? Because my own personal thoughts agreed with the Messenger.

You see, I recognized the inner voice as being that of the Holy Spirit’s. And no doubt, I did not fully understand much of what I was reading in the Old Testament. However, now later in life, I have a deeper love, respect and understanding of whom my Savior is. For over the ensuing decades of service, my spirit has been fortified, revived and glorified. All praises be unto God for allowing me to grow in biblical grace. This feat was made possible with the international missionary trips I had been privileged to embarked upon.

Below are highlights of how the Holy Spirit has brought me closer to Matthew 5:1-14 “The Sermon On The Mount”. And why He provided me with my epithet.

Most biblical saints when teaching the Beatitudes, translate the ensuing eleven (‘Blessed‘ phrases) messages as an indictment against the awaiting crowd. But those in attendance are mostly Orthodox Jews! They do not know Jesus Christ nor His characteristics and Who He is.

At this moment, Jesus is teaching the Sermon on the Mount to nonbelievers. The instructions within the Beatitudes however, are for the apostles and others who will be spreading the message of the Good News. For if their hearts and attitudes are not right, their message concerning the blessings which are in store for them are not available.(*) And will not be understood.

The crowd’s attitude is that this Man’s (Jesus’) message is not for them. They already have Moses’ message (the Ten Commandments). And they are familiar with which sacrifices to bring to God’s alter during certain times of the year to expel their sins. Thus, at that time with a new slate for another year.

So remember this message…

If your desire is to be a follower and a disciple of Jesus Christ, pray that in all thy getting, you receive a complete understand of the Beatitudes and govern yourselves forthwith. Your reward is recorded in Matthew 5:13-14:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men(*).

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

My pray unto the Holy Father is this:

Thank you Holy Spirit for nurturing me through life’s struggles. How wonderful it is that You speak to me personally through Your Word, and that I can respond to You through the Word. Continue to teach me to spend time with You in this way and to hear Your voice speaking to me personally.

Thank you Lord Jesus, sincerely, for my epithet which is already engraved on my tombstone: “In All Thy Getting, Get An Understanding!” Amen and Amen

(*) NOTE 1: Non believers who to this day, reject the Holy One who is the Son of God.

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Jesus began calling his first disciples out of the saltshaker and into the world.  And guess where the saltshakers had found refuge?  In the synagogues!  Yes, hiding in plain sight. What you may not realize is that John the Baptist was actually the first preacher of the gospel. John’s message was one of repentance. The Holy Spirit had already informed him that the kingdom of heaven has come near. John preached that the Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ had already been warned by the prophet Isaiah.

This situation came about after Jesus had been reluctantly baptized in the Jordan River by His cousin, John the Baptist.  After this took place, two additional events happened.  First, God opened heaven and Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  Then, a voice from heaven was heard: “This is my Son, Whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Those two events were confirmation and proof positive that Jesus Christ was the Messiah…just as John the Baptist had proclaimed.

Nevertheless, Peter’s denial of ever knowing Jesus and his braggadocio expressions of false endearment toward Christ was a let down. Also, Peter did not stay awake while Jesus prayed to his Father. Seemingly, towards the end of Jesus’s life on earth, Peter tried to avoid being publicly identified as a Christian. (That situation can be associated with many followers today.)

Perhaps the Lord knew from the get-go, that his life’s road would be hard to climb. Thus, he allowed the Holy Spirit to lead him into the wilderness, and there he went on a forty day and night fast.  Jesus was also tempted by the Devil during this time.

Jesus overcame the wilds of the Devil and was successful in causing Ole Slew-foot to flee.  Next, angels came and attended to Jesus. However, the Pharisees’ disdain for Jesus was never appeased. Jesus’ teaching on: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” never took hold in the Pharisees’ heart.

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