Searching Gods Heart

What Does "Holy" Mean?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:01:00 +0000

For the last few days, I have been fascinated with the word "Holy". What does it really mean? The word can be translated as separated. I have looked up the word and what different people say about it. It means more than just being good or separated from the world. To say that God is "holy" is similar to saying that God is great, powerful, merciful, just, wise, loving, ect....

I really feel like Holiness is even more. I do not know what Holiness is or how it relates to my life in its completeness but I want to find out. So for the next few days I am going to concentrate on what Holiness is. I won't be writing post for a while.

If you have any ideas on holiness, please tell me. This is a quest I need to fulfill.

Living Waters

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 13:17:00 +0000

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:38

Living water does not mean that it is some kind of creature. Living water is flowing like a river or stream. The Jews would baptize using living water and not a tank of water like we usually do. That is why John the Baptist would baptize people in the Jordan River.

Living water is a source of life. Fish thrive in rivers and streams because it is aerated and clean. Stagnate water has little air and is a pool where parasites and diseases can thrive. It literally becomes a pool of death.

You are a reservoir meant to contain the living water of God. The living water must continually flow in you by the Word and Spirit of God. If you were to stop the flow by not listening to God and reading His word, your reservoir of living water would quickly dry up and you would spiritually thirst to death. You would be living a worldly life instead of one of blessings and life from God.

If you were to stop the outflow of the living waters in your life, the world around you would thirst to death. You were meant to water the lives of those around you. You are full of the Life of God. It was never meant to be dammed up inside you. You might be the only source of the life-giving water of God that your friends and loved ones ever see.

Only living water will satisfy the thirsty soul.

The Non-Prodigal Son

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 13:37:00 +0000

The story of the prodigal son tells of him taking his inheritance, squandering it in wild living, and returning to a loving father. The elder son is seldom talked about in sermons, but he is key to your life.

You as a Christ redeemed, Bible-believing Christian who seeks to do God's will in your life are the elder son. You have done the father's will and stayed true to His word. Hopefully, unlike the elder son in the story, you have rejoiced when others come to or return to God.

One of the first things said of the elder son in Luke 15:11-12 is that the Father divided his property between the two sons. Did you catch that? It was not only the younger son who received his inheritance but the elder son as well. One-third of the estate would have gone to the younger and two-thirds to the elder.

Wisely the elder son honored his father and cared for the estate, but he never utilized it as he could have. He could have killed the fatted calf and held a grand celebration with his friends because he was now rich. The father, in Verse 31, said, "...everything I have is yours." Everything! The son held in his power all that the father owned.

We have not possessed Heaven yet but we have inherited from the father great riches while still in this world. There is great power within our reach. When we pray, we are calling down the power of God to work in this world. The power of God to heal. The power of God to protect. The power of God to comfort. The power of God to provide. The power of God to guide. The power of God to do the miraculous in our lives.

The power of God who sits on the Royal Throne of the Universe has given you Heaven and the power of God who is enthroned in Heaven. Soon you will claim Heaven but until then all the power of God is your inheritance now.

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:13-14

What to Say When You're Speechless.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 20:48:00 +0000

I have been thinking and praying about what to post today but have not felt comfortable about anything until now.

Instead of telling people something of God, I want to tell you Lord about us. We are a sinful and rebellious people who seek out comfort and the easy way of life. We are selfish and prideful. We are not worthy of you and your love.

Thank you for loving us anyway. Thank you for giving us your son. Thank you for all the blessings you give to us even when we forget to thank you for them.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

The Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:01:00 +0000

Throughout history, we admired the rebel who stood up to the corruption of an evil government. We in the United States admire Geoge Washington and those who fought the war for independence from England. The Scottish admire William Wallace's rebellion against England. And who can forget the slave Spartacus who led Roman Slaves in revolt against Rome?

There is a revolution in this world that covers the whole globe. A revolt that permeates the very fabric of existence here on Earth. This rebellion does not have noble leaders to admire. It is the rebellion against God which started with Adam and Eve and continues to this day.

Christians are not rebels against the world. Just because there are much fewer Bible-believing Christians than there are non-Christians, does not mean we are the force rebelling against the evil of the world. Christians are the loyal subjects of the eternal King of the Universe. The world is rebelling against God, not the Christian against the World.

When a person commits a sin, Christian or not, they are committing rebellion against the King. Every sinful act is an act of treason and punishable by death. It does not matter how small or big we think a sin is, it is still rebellion and treason.

Are you a rebel? Do you think a little white lie, a small piece of gossip or stealing that pen from work is too small to matter? God takes our treasonous actions serious. Shouldn't we?

"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..." 1 Samuel 15:23a

No Faith in Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 14:16:00 +0000

If you stop to think about it there are a lot of things that you can do right now which you will never do in Heaven. One is that you will never be able to live by faith in Heaven. In Heaven, you will know God face to face.

In Heaven, you will not be able to stand up against Satan, the world and those who oppose God. You will never be able to choose to stand with God against the forces of evil. You can never again bless God by turning your back on sin and self. On Earth, you have the privilege and honor of telling the lost about salvation being found only in Jesus Christ. In Heaven, you will never again experience the joy of praying with someone to accept Jesus as savior.

There are no needs in Heaven. You will never have to trust God for your next meal, enough money for rent, or for anything at all. You will not have the privilege of reaching out to those in need. There are no charities in Heaven. You will not be able to sacrifice anything of yourself to help meet the needs of others.

Heaven has nothing more to overcome. There is nothing more to be victorious over because the victories are all won. The place, for all those things, is here on earth, at this time and this time only. Earth can be painful and hard. There is much evil here and suffering, but this is where you have the awesome ability to express your faith.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Photo Credit: Faith by Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon

A Fool for Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:27:00 +0000

One of the titles the world has given to Christians is "fool". From the view point of the world we seem to be crazy, delusional people who will believe the most idiotic things imaginable. To us it is rational but to them our beliefs are totally irrational. Do these 12 things sound sensible?

1. Creation took six days and not billions of years.

2. Death began throughout all of the universe because a man and woman ate a fruit.

3. God became a man.

4. A loving God kills whole nations.

5. Jesus was killed, rose from the dead and lives now in Heaven.

6. By simply repenting and accepting Jesus as Savior anyone can go go Heaven.

7. Jesus is coming back to rule for 1000 years.

8. The Bible is inerrant.

9. The sun stood still so a battle could be waged.

10. Moses divided the Red Sea.

11. Jesus walked on water.

12. Jesus fed thousands with a few fish and loaves of bread.

Believing those things are actually true seems crazy to the world. Believing that prophecies in the Bible are taking place today is also seen as crazy.

Am I crazy simply because I believe and trust in God and what He says? If that is a fool then may I be the worse of fools.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

Photo Credit: Easter_EmptyTomb by Donut_Diva

The Brink of War

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 15:55:00 +0000

I don't watch the news on TV but I do read the Newspaper. Very little is said about what is happening in the Middle East. What is happening is that war is almost inevitable and the United States is in the Middle of it. With the gassing of people in Syria by Assad, the United States is almost forced to strike back at the Syrian regime. I won't go into details (you will have to do some research yourself or trust me) but Russia says it will defend its allies even to the point of using nuclear weapons. Russia is backing Assad in Syria, as well as an alliance between Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

That alliance is in Syria and building up their military there. They are eyeing Israel with covetous eyes. Iran especially is setting up to attack Israel with plans to destroy it. War is coming just as the Bible prophecied.

I fought in Viet Nam. War is not glorious and should be shunned whenever possible. It is death, destruction, and horror. This Middle East war is going to be full of so much death that it will be a bloodbath.

In spite of knowing that, I am excited and not fearful. I do believe that the Rapture will come very soon and this war is a sign of it being near, but that is not what excites me. There will be great tribulation starting soon and it will be the fires of those trials which cause people throughout the world to seek God. Sometimes you have to lose everything and be down in the lowest points of your life before you look up to find help from God.

Seeing the world today makes me sad. People are so far from God and more people are walking away from Him everyday. We are comfortable living in this sinful world and that is so sad.

The end is near. Do not fear. God is in control and will bring people to Himself so that they might know God and His love. If you do not know Him, you need him now. If you do know Him, you need to follow Jesus even closer.

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." Matthew 24:6

Get Rid of the Clutter From the Past

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 14:47:00 +0000

I just returned home from a five-day trip up to the Minneapolis area where my mother-in-law was moved from her apartment to assisted living. It was great to see people up there but it is so nice to be home again.

It is amazing how much a small apartment can hold. Books, pictures, souvenirs, pots, pans, magazines, clothes, lamps, and thousands of other things were all packed up and taken away. The apartment was well cared for and not messy or cluttered, but there was still so much of it.

This got me thinking of the clutter in my life. Oh, I do have clutter, especially on my computer desk, but I mean clutter in my spiritual life. How many things from my past do I store away in my memory and bring out to view later? Wrongs which were done to me by others as far back as elementary school I bring to memory and I still feel the pain. I think of great successes I performed and bring to mind just to feel that pride again when I should be taking joy in successes of today. Perhaps I need to get off my rear end and make those successes happen instead of glorying in the past?

Those things are all clutter. Things which should not be brought out today but placed in the past and left there. Today is a new day where God will lead and victories will be won. Past victories, defeats, and pains are to be given over to God and not used to control us today.

"... But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13b-14

Why Would a Loving God Kill a Whole Nation?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 11:43:00 +0000

Most people can not understand why God, who the Bible says is love, would command a nation of people to be killed. Not just the soldiers, but every man, woman, and child were to be put to death. It seems counter to what any caring and loving person would do.

In 1 Samuel 15, God orders Saul to kill all the Amalekites. Every man, woman, child, and baby were to die. Even the animals were to be put to death. Saul disobeyed God. You might think that Saul was more loving than God was, but that is not true. God had ordered the death of the Amalekites because of His love for Israel.

God did love the Amalekites, but He also knew their hearts and what the future held if they were to live. God looks not only at what is happening now but also what the results of today's actions will bring tomorrow.

Because of Saul's disobedience to kill every Amalekite, the people of Israel suffered. A wicked man named Haman devised a plot to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Haman was an Amalekite. He didn't succeed because God used Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai to stop Haman's plot.

God is the Great Physician not only of our bodies but of our lives. When a Doctor finds a cancer it must be removed before it affects the rest of the body. The Amalekites had a heart that was godless and dark. Israel tried to befriend them, but their hatred for Israel brought them to war against Israel. God knew that this Amalekite cancer would only get worse. Just as a Doctor would never want to remove an arm from a patient, God did not want to kill all the Amalekites. But just as a Doctor does remove a cancerous arm before the cancer spreads and kills the patient; God ordered the Amalekites removed.

God never wants to cause pain in the world or in our lives, but because He knows what the future holds in this world, He does bring pain in order to save us. We can not judge what God does because we can not see what He sees. We can only trust Him and His love for us that it will all works out for good.

How to Find the Secrets of the Bible

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:46:00 +0000

Yes, there are hidden secrets in the Scriptures. Many things of God are deeper and harder to find than just the surface information we read in the bible. So how do we find those deeper secrets? It is very simple once you learn the key, but one truth that we must always keep in mind is that the Bible will never contradict itself.

God sent a tutor, the Holy Spirit, who will help you to find more and more, deeper and deeper truths of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can help you. On your own, you might find some of those deeper secrets but without the Holy Spirit, the truth of them and the complete understanding will be lost to you.

How do you get the Holy Spirit to help you with finding and understanding Scripture? God reveals Himself more to those who humbly seek Him and His Word. The Christian who realizes that all he has is God's, the believer who puts all his trust in God, the one who gives all glory to God and not themselves is the person that God will entrust with deeper truths.

You read a section of the Bible and find a truth of God. Later you read that same section and find even more. Years later and having read that same section of scripture a hundred times, you can still find more of the truths of God. This is because of the Holy Spirit revealing it to you. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

God wants you to find out more of the hidden truths of God, but it requires you to die to self and trust God more. It is in humility that we will find the heart of God.

"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." Psalm 25:9

The Most Important Chapter in the Bible

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 15:27:00 +0000

First let me say that every book, every chapter, every verse, word, and letter are important and integral to the Scriptures. There is one chapter that I believe everything is founded upon and without it, the rest of Scripture would be weakened and much more easily warped by Satan and those who follow him.

Genesis chapter one is so important for the Christian to understand and believe. Satan is constantly trying to tear this chapter apart and diminish the work of God. Evolution is a Satanic tool to undermine God. If Satan can get the world to question this one Chapter, then people will question all that follows. If God was not telling the truth about creation, then what else is God lying about?

Throughout the Bible, the word "day" is translated as a 24 hour day, but some say that creation is an exception. All of a sudden people translate that word as meaning eons. No! God is able and did create the world in six literal days.

Some say that God created everything using evolution. Than God lied when he said that death entered the world when man sinned. Romans 5:12 Millions of years with no death would have put Adam and Eve in a world where animals completely covered the world several stories deep. People accept evolution because they never search for the truth, but dismiss creation without even investigating it. Many also know the fallacies of evolution but because they do not want to accept that there is a God, they allow their hearts and minds to be hardened.

Genesis 1 is key to all of Scripture. This is where everything springs forth from. This is where God reveals Himself and His work. All the Bible events and people are founded on this chapter. Read it. Believe it. Live it.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16

Do you think a different chapter is more important? Do you disagree with what I said? Leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

It is All About Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 17:25:00 +0000

It is all about Jesus. Hmm. What is "it"? I have come to the conclusion that "it" is everything. It has taken me many years to come to this conclusion, but I don't think there is anything in all of existence that is untouched by Jesus and his life.

The Bible is about Jesus from the very beginning because nothing was created without him. Even the animal skins used to cloth Adam and Eve represent the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to cover our sins. And it ends with Jesus saving the world from destruction and ruling for a thousand years before a new Heaven and a new Earth are created.

Your life is about Jesus. You exist so that Jesus can bless you with salvation, spiritual gifts and care for you while in this world. You also exist so that Jesus can guide you in telling others about salvation found in Jesus and to worship and glorify him. You exist so that Jesus can love you and so you can love him.

Everything in the world you see exists to be a part of God's Plan in this world. In some way, everything fits into God's plan to bring people to Christ and to bless His people. Many times something may be used for evil, but God will use that event for His purpose.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Mystery Solved! Who Killed Jesus?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 15:04:00 +0000

Did the Jews Kill Jesus?

After Jesus was arrested he was put on trial at night (illegally) where false witness was brought against him. When the High Priest demanded under oath, by the living God, to say if he was the Messiah, Jesus told the truth and for it was declared a blasphemer. They hit him, slapped him and spat upon him. Because Jesus told them who he was, they wanted him dead, but they no longer had that power. They had to get the Romans to kill Jesus for them.

Did the Roman's Kill Jesus?

The Jews brought Jesus before Pilate charging Jesus with saying he was the King of the Jews. That would have been a treasonous act since only Rome could declare who the King of the Jews would be. Pilate found Jesus innocent but the Jews demanded that Pilate crucify Jesus saying, "His blood be on us and our Children."

Pilate had Jesus scourged 39 times which ripped the skin off his back down to the bone. He was beaten, slapped, spat on, ridiculed, hit with reeds, and a crown of thorns placed on his head. He then had to carry his cross to the execution point but was too weak from the abuse he had taken and collapsed on the way. The Roman's hammered nails into his hands and feet, and hung him on a cross. He hung there naked in the sun for hours before he died. To make sure he was dead a soldier thrust a spear into his side.

Jesus said that neither the Jews nor the Romans killed him. "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down and the authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." John 10:18

No one could have taken the life of Jesus unless he willed it so. Why would he do such a thing?

I killed Jesus.

I am the one who was condemned him to death. Jesus was innocent but I was guilty. I rebelled against God. My heart was filled with evil. I am the one whose death sentence was justified.

Jesus took my place and died so that I might live. It was for me he was tortured and killed. If not for my sin, he would never have needed to die. The blame is not to be given to the Jews or the Romans, but to me.

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to being you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit." 1 Peter 3:18

The Goodness of Man

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 14:33:00 +0000

I remember what I was like before I was saved. I was a good man. I didn't drink. I didn't smoke. I didn't swear. I was a very good person. I admit I was not perfect, but overall I was far from evil. I thought of myself as a good Christian man.

Today I am a born again, Bible-believing, Jesus freak Christian. I read my Bible and spend time with Jesus every day. I teach in Bible studies. I have led in prayer. I have helped others find Christ as their personal savior. I have protested abortion. I speak in tongues, comfort the hurting, give to the needy and try to always give glory to God.

What is strange is that today I see myself not as a good man but as someone whose heart is evil and in need of God.

Before I knew Christ I compared myself to others. I saw where they had fallen short, but I didn't. I was a better man then they were because I didn't swear, but they did. I didn't steal, but they did. It was easy to be better than most of the people I knew.

When I became a Christian I started to compare myself to Jesus Christ. No man knows how bad he is till he has come face to face with God. I came face to face with the perfection and purity of God and found that my life was so far short of where God stood that I was actually evil in my actions and thoughts. Maybe my life was better than others, but God does not compare me to others. I am to be like Christ. I am to be perfect and only Christ can make me the man of God I am supposed to be.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Who are We?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 14:14:00 +0000

We sit on a small planet spinning around one of the 200 billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. Our Galaxy is one of an estimated 100 Billion Galaxies in the universe. How insignificant are we humans who God created out of the dust. Who are we compared to all the stars and planets in the Universe?

We members of this rebellious and sin riddled human race, are here today and gone tomorrow. We are but a blip on the map of history and yet God does see us. God knows your name. God knows the number of hairs on your head. God knows your every thought, your every word, your every pain and your every action.

God named every star that exist (Psalm 147:4) and he knows your name as well (John 10:3), You are so important to God that He can not take His eyes off of you. He created your inmost being. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Planets, suns and galaxies are merely rocks and gas, but you were formed by the loving hands of God to be a unique and beautiful treasure of life. (Psalm 139)

We are who we are, and valued by God not because of anything we have done, but simply because of who God is. God is Love. Out of the love of God He has made you to be the apple of His eye.

Who are we?

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

You are Like a Prophecy Being Fulfilled

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 15:11:00 +0000

Biblical prophecies are each created by God. Every one of them unique and a mystery. God's prophecies are precious and always with the intent of goodness. They come from the wisdom and love of God. Many of these prophecies exist over hundreds and even thousands of years before the promise of them is fulfilled.

In the New Testament when a prophecy was fulfilled the Greek word "Plero'o" was used. Plero'o is the word used for the filling of a cup. So a prophecy is like an empty cup awaiting for the proper time for its plero'o; its filling.

Plero'o is also used in 2 Colossians 2:9-10 "For in Christ all the fullness (plero'o) of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness (plero'o). He is the head over every power and authority."

Your life is like a prophecy of God. It, too, is unique and precious. With God's wise leading your life will bring about the goodness and love of God in this world. Your life in Christ is not empty, but filled with the Holy Spirit. Before a person accepts Jesus as savior, they are empty, waiting to be filled. People try other ways to fill their life's cup, but only God can plero'o it.

For thousands of years this world has waited for you! At the proper time you came into this world to fulfill your life's mission. Only you can fill your roll properly and completely. You are a precious part of God's plan for the world. You help to bring about the plero'o of God's work in this world.

The Destruction of Damascus

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 13:49:00 +0000

In Isaiah 17:1-3 God prophecies that Damascus will be no longer a city, but a heap of ruins where no one lives anymore.

Today Damascus, the oldest city in the world, still exists even though Syria is one big and confusing battleground. Much of the city is in ruins but people still live there amidst the fighting. Iran, Turkey, and Russia have troops in Syria and many of their weapons are pointed towards Israel.

The latest on Damascus comes out of Russia who says that "US Attack on Damascus is Imminent!" Could this be true or could this be a hoax? I don't know. I think Russia might nuke Damascus and blame the US for the attack, but only God knows at this point what will happen.

If the US gets blamed for the destruction of Damascus that would put America in a bind. International politics would probably cause the US to stay out of any military action in the Middle East so as to lessen the world's condemnation of the USA.

There is only one sure thing we can know. God is in control. Never fear the events of the world. God has it all in hand. Trust God and keep your eyes open for Jesus's coming. The end times are not at the door any longer; we are living them.

For more on the US attack on Damascus click Here

God is not Man

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:49:00 +0000

Humanity has a tendency to make God in man's image. Look at the Greek, the Roman, and the Norse gods and you will see mere humans living in the clouds, with all their faults, but with great powers. Power does not make a god.

Even today people foist humanity upon God. Even we Christians think that God is like us. We try to paint God with humanity so that we can identify with Him better. We try to lower God to our level.

Lowering God to our level is the easy way to relate to God. We want God to love us, so we make God accepting of our sins. We want God to be peaceful and nice, so we make God weak and malleable. We want a God who will make us comfortable and looked up to by others, so we make a God who is more concerned with material and social gains than spiritual ones.

Why do we settle on such a whimpy God? Because we are too lazy to know the real God. Because we want a God who lets us do what we want to do. Because we want to be our own God.

We must never try to lower God to our level, but raise ourselves up to God instead. We are to study the Scriptures because they tell us about Him. We are to live a life that reflects the nature of God and His righteousness. We are to tell others about Jesus Christ and the salvation he bought for us with his own life because it is in God's nature to sacrifice for others. It is the nature of God which we must strive to learn and to emulate.

God is not a man, nor does He think like a man. He knows man. He knows the weaknesses and faults of man, but God's nature is nothing like ours. His nature is what makes Him God. A nature that is foreign to fallen man.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

5 Tips for Dating Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 14:03:00 +0000

At this present time, you are dating Jesus. You are his betrothed. He is the bridegroom who will soon come and take you, his bride, away to the wedding feast. Until then you are to get to know Jesus and fall in love with him. Just as there are some dos and don'ts in dating others in your life, there are some dos and don'ts for dating Jesus.

1. Don't meet Jesus in just one location.
The church should not be the only place you meet with Jesus. How would your date here on earth feel if you only took them to church but never anywhere else.

2. Meet with him more than once a week.
It is hard to learn what someone is like when you only see them once a week. Jesus wants to be with you all the time so you can learn more of who he is.

3. Be yourself.
Jesus does not want to only see your smiles. He wants to be with you during the good times but also in the bad. It is the hard times of life that we truly learn what a person is like. No matter what you might think about yourself, Jesus will stay with you to comfort and help you.

4. Talk.
Talking is essential in your relationship with Jesus. He wants to hear what you are thinking about. He wants to share your burdens and your joys. Talk with him about the concerns you have and never be afraid to ask him for help. There is nothing too small or too large for him to lovingly help you with.

5. Do not be ashamed of Jesus
Take Jesus with you everywhere and never be ashamed to be seen with him. Strangers, friends and family, whether they like him or not, need to come second. Jesus needs to be the love of your life and soon you, the bride of Christ, will be with him forever. How would you feel if your fiance never wanted to be seen with you?

Rivka's Wedding Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 14:02:00 +0000

Rivka sat up in her chair and leaned towards the window. The darkness of the night hid the person outside but his voice came to her clearly. "The Bridegroom comes! The Bridegroom comes!"

She sat there stunned. Just over a year ago she was betrothed to Nathan the weaver. How could that year be over so quickly? She wasn't ready. She looked forward to being married to Nathan. He was a good man who was kind and generous. He was a godly man and gave to the poor and needed. But she was not ready for him now.

Rivka's sister rushed into the room squealing "Aaaaah! Rivka! Rivka! He is coming! He said he would be coming soon. He told us it would be at this season when the apple trees were budding and he kept his promise. He is coming. I will go gather your bridesmaids. You get dressed."

Rivka sat there in shock as she saw her sister run out the door and into the streets to find Rivka's friends. What was she to do? She still had not finished the sleeves on her wedding dress and had not even started to make her vail. Her hope chest was maybe half full of the things she would need at her new home. She had kept putting off buying the jewelry for her wedding day. The simple brass necklace with a ball hanging from it was the only jewelry she had and it just would not do.

Jesus is our Bridegroom. The signs which he told us to watch for are here today. Any day now Jesus will be coming and we do not want to be a Rivka. How embarrassing it would be for us if Jesus comes to take his Bride and we are not ready.

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:44

Photo disclaimer: The picture is of my daughter Dawn She is not a Rivka. She was very ready for her wedding day. I just used her picture because I think she makes a beautiful bride.

The Greatest Moment of My Life

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 13:52:00 +0000

I look back on my life and see some pretty low points and some joyously high peaks. The greatest moments of my past would have to include my marriage and life with my wife Kathy, the birth of my three daughters and of course accepting Jesus as my savior.

The greatest moment of my life though is yet to come. That is the day I come face to face with God. I am sure I will be trembling in awe of Him. I will fall down on my face and probably just stay that way for a long, long time.

God, the all mighty. God, the all knowing. God, the awesome. I can only imagine what my eyes will see and I am sure it will be far more fearful than that. To be before the most powerful force in all existence, a person who could wipe me out with a single word or gesture. God!

But I think what will amaze me the most is not His awesome power, but His love. I would shun all safety so I could be in the presence of the awesome and fearful God because He is the most loving being in existence. A love for me that is greater than my fears.

I truly feel homesick for Heaven. I feel such a desire to be living with my God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are my greatest desire, and seeing them I am sure will be my greatest moment in life.

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" Psalm 42:2

What Does Amen Mean?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 21:00:00 +0000

The Hebrew word for faith is Emunah. The root of this word is Emun which means truth, solid, sure, support. Faith is a surety of what is not seen being true and solid. Emunah also means steadfast, established, and stable. The more faith you have, the more established and stable the object of your faith becomes in your life. When you have faith in God, He becomes stronger and more established in your life.

Another word that comes from the same root word is amen. It sounds like emun or emunah. To say amen is to say "That is true." "Yes, I have faith in that." Faith is to say amen to God. It is to say amen to God's salvation. Amen to His love. Amen to the reality of God.

Saying Amen is to say, "My whole being, my heart and my soul stand steadfast in the knowledge that what God says is true. I stand on His word which is a solid rock that shall never fail me. Here I stand, I can not do otherwise."

The Saddest Death

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 13:54:00 +0000

Mortal life is nonexistent. I am sorry to burst the bubbles of people who think that they will live a few years on this earth, die and that is the end. You do not have a mortal life. No one has a mortal life and no one ever did.

It is true that your life on earth is temporary, but your life does not end once your body dies. Your body is mortal but your life is immortal. Even if you go to eternal judgement, your life will continue on forever.

Eternal life is not just for Christians. Everyone gets to live forever. The problem is that those who never accepted Jesus as Savior will live in eternal torment; cut off from God.

The Bible talks about our bodies being mortal but not our lives. It is sad that people look upon this world as the only place they will ever live. This world will end but they shall not.

"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9

The saddest event in history is not the crucifixion of Christ, but the death of an unbeliever.

The Cursed Crown of Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 21:00:00 +0000

A crown is placed on the head of the person who is to rule. It symbolizes how the weight of the kingdom now rests upon his head. He is the one who now has the authority over those who the crown represents.

Jesus was crowned with a crown of thorns. Thorns are the result of the sin committed in the Garden of Eden. The thorns represent the curse of sin. No man in all of history has had authority over sin. Sin has wrecked havoc over the entire human race, until Jesus came. Jesus wore the crown of thorns which was placed on his head to mock him, but instead Jesus wore that crown of suffering and death as a true king.

Jesus does have authority over the curse of sin. He is the King over injustice. He is the King over suffering and death. Jesus Christ is the King over all sin.

The Cursed Crown of Christ has become the Blessed Crown of Life.

Photo Credit: Crown of Thorns by Doug1021