1. Flowers, grass and trees.
I have such a variety of trees. I have apple trees, tangerine trees, peach trees, blueberry bushes, pecan trees, dogwood trees, oak trees, pine trees, eucalyptus trees, redwood trees, pomegranate trees, fig trees, cedar trees, pear trees, lemon trees.
I have flowers! Tiger lilies, spider lilies, roses, azaleas, Easter lilies, grape vine, jasmine, gladiolas, irises, camellias, and more!
I have beautiful green grass with fields of green but, I have small sections of wooded areas.
I live close to town....about a mile from a store and about 5 miles from Wal-mart....but I live in the country with lots of privacy.
There is a slow moving creek (edged with beautiful clover that stays green all year long) that runs across my back property that provides water for my animals, lodging for my ducks and hours of play for my grandchildren.
I have enough pecan trees to completely pay for my Christmas vacation to mom's every year.
Yes, I love my little heaven because of the sheer beauty of it.
2. The home itself.
No, it isn't the faniciest of homes but it suits me. It has 5 bedrooms with 4 being on one end and my bedroom (which I've made into a little apartment) on the opposite end. I could literally live in my bedroom. It has 3 full bathrooms. And, a large living room.
It is clean. It has huge windows and constantly looks bright and cheery. There is no clutter (except the closet which the grandkids keep their stuff and the dining room table when it is rent collecting time).
I have my mother's china displayed in the dining room. I love her china!
The kitchen has a table which we all eat around. I love to crowd around that table so much more than to eat in the dining room!!! The kitchen is a place of a lot of happenings around here. Every Saturday my 8 grandchildren come over and spend the night....the kitchen is where it is happening! Every Sunday I have a big get-together after church....the kitchen is wall-to-wall people! I love it.
I have 3 big porches and 3 porch swings! You can sit on the east porch and watch the sunrise. You can sit on the back porch and watch the animals. You can sit on the front porch and watch our renters (haha, I never sit on the front porch).
I do not have a TV. The only noise you hear in my home is the sound of wind blowing through the open doors and windows and, on occasion, the piano....when my children come home to visit.
3. The animals.
I love animals. I have cats, dogs, cows, goats, ducks, chickens, and lots of squirrels. I love to sit on my back porch and watch my animals. Every animal I have is tame (even though we do raise them for food).
And the animals provide hours of outside and active entertainment for my grandchildren.
4. The people.
I have the most pleasant home. There is no fighting or yelling. It is a happy place. People love to come visit and often do come! The people are happy. Right now I have 2 boarders....Lee and Amy. They are pleasant people who chip in and do their part.
But, the most wonderful person of my home is my husband. He is a true man of God. He is pleasant to me. He spends just the right amount of time with me. He takes care of me. He is brave and not afraid of confrontation. He is gentle in kind. He doesn't smoke, drink, cuss or look at pornography. He is a devoted husband who has shown me nothing but kindness. He was good to our children.
I'll admit, he does run the house. He definitely is the rooster of our home. But, the rest of us respect him because he is so good. He doesn't put off jobs that need be taken care of today. He wakes up early (5:00) and studies his Bible and prays. He prays for our marriage every day. He is also very careful to not wake me when he leaves.
He has done many SUPER romantic things in our 26 years of marriage but that is for another paper.
In the evening he walks with me to bring the animals in. We talk and hold hands and if we have time we sit on the porch and swing together.
Anyone who likes the simple life, would love my home.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Time to Grow Up
(1 Cor 13:11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
God gave us an example of the age at which a person should be mature.
(Luke 2:42-52) And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after 2three days they found him in the 1temple, sitting in the midst of the 3doctors, both 6hearing them, and 4asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and 9answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye 5sought me? wist ye not that I 10must be about my 8Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was 7subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and 11man.
Jesus was actually in the temple teaching when he was twelve. So I take this two-fold:
1. Our children should be through acting like kids at age 12 and should be about their earthly father’s business. They should put away the toys and be a blessing to their father. They should be in the kitchen helping momma or in the garage with daddy working!
2. As born-again children of God then we should, after 12 years of salvation, be about our Heavenly Father’s business. We should no longer need to be entertained or self-centered but should be working for our Father.
If, after 12 years, your children still can’t walk, feed themselves, dress themselves, or talk, we think they are backward. After 12 years as a Christian there are some things we should have outgrown and some things we should know. Babies need to grow . . . it takes a good 12 years to grow to the point of usability for Jesus. See why it’s important to get saved young? (That’s why it is important to disciple those you win to Christ.) Just think, if you get saved at 5 then at 17 you are ready to teach a class or be a missionary. (Heb 5:12)
Baby Christians are new Christians. They should have spiritual parents that help them grow. There is almost no way that a new born Christian can grow on his own. Just as a baby born of the flesh must have help to grow to maturity so must a spiritual baby.
Some Interesting Facts about Babies
1. Everyone loves babies - but an 8 year old acting like a baby is not cute. A church full of babies is fun and exciting but there needs to be some maturity there to help grow those babies or we have a bunch of retarded Christians.
2. Babies choke on meat - Meat is the deep things of God . . . Standards are deep. People just don’t understand the deep things of God. Can you imagine teaching a 3 month old baby how to multiply? Well how in the world can you expect a 3 month old Christian to multiply (win souls). It must be taught slowly and gradually. Some Christians, just like some babies, mature more rapidly that others but all normal babies can be mature by age 12.
3. Babies want constant attention - We have to teach our children little by little to stand alone. When you are spiritually training someone you have to give them a lot of attention or they will not make it as a Christian. (Prov 29:15) ... but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
4. Babies are self-centered - They want everything done their way.
5. Babies get sick easily - They catch attitudes. That is why you need to watch who your converts hang around.
6. Babies cry and complain - They have to be taught to be content. Sometimes you may chastise them and maybe tell them, “Now, Melinda, you are being a little critical. I am sure Jill didn’t mean anything by that.”Just as you would a earthly baby.
7. Babies have no modesty - Babies don’t see anything wrong with showing their thighs.(Isaiah 47:2-3)
8. Babies have no sense of danger - They don’t see anything wrong with rock music. They don’t see what’s wrong with mixed swimming. Just as fleshy babies have to be protected from a hot stove, we have to protect our spiritual children from a sin.
9. Babies get dirty quickly - Backslide! However, when a baby gets dirty what does the parent do? Well, that is what the spiritual parent should do . . . help clean them up!
10. Babies can’t handle responsibility - That is why we have a 6 months waiting period for teaching a Sunday school class. We need to know if you are a baby pretending to be an adult . . . you know . . . playing dress-up. You know, if you give me a few minutes alone with a child I can pretty much guess their physical age. If you give me a few minutes alone with a child of God I can pretty much guess their spiritual age.
11. Babies want to play all the time - They complain if church goes over 12:00. They can’t pray or study their Bible because it is over their head. That is why they need spiritual parents to tell them the Bible stories, teach them to read, and whet their appetite so they read on their own.
12. Babies need boundaries defined and repeated - Babies have to be told over and over what is right or wrong. They just can’t see it. They are very short-sighted.
13. Babies are takers - Gimmy! They have to be taught to give.
A Good Test of Maturity -
Jesus at 12 was:
1. He was at church
2. He was responsible
3. He hung around the right crowd
4. He hungered for truth
5. He was respectful
6. He listened to counsel
7. He was obedient to authority
8. He was totally dedicated to God (godly)
9. He was teaching others about His father
10. He had a purpose (Goal)
11. He had a pleasant personality
Here are what spiritual parents need to give their spiritual children:
1. Proper atmosphere (Friendship and companionship) If they don’t hang around you then they will hang around somebody.
2. Nourishment (Food) You need to feed them at first.
3. Rest (Church) You get them there if you have to.
4. Exercise (Soulwinning) Take them with you. Church work also is applicable here.
Now, the reason we have Sunday School. . . It’s not ideal but its similar to a nursery . . . it takes up where parents are failing as spiritual leaders. We have got to win people to the Lord. We are only human so we can’t disciple everyone we reach but we should try our best. Sunday school is for the multitude that needs growing but don’t have the spiritual leadership they need. That is why we have Sunday school standards . . . to grow kids similarly so the kids can grow their full 12 years without contradictions. Remember consistency is the key to good parenting. If a kid gets one teacher that says you don’t have to go to Sunday school and another says you do, then you have a contradiction before spiritual maturity and you lose that kid. Yes, our kids are in Sunday school but when their 12 years of spiritual maturity is up they need to be prepared for their spiritual future.
God gave us an example of the age at which a person should be mature.
(Luke 2:42-52) And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after 2three days they found him in the 1temple, sitting in the midst of the 3doctors, both 6hearing them, and 4asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and 9answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye 5sought me? wist ye not that I 10must be about my 8Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was 7subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and 11man.
Jesus was actually in the temple teaching when he was twelve. So I take this two-fold:
1. Our children should be through acting like kids at age 12 and should be about their earthly father’s business. They should put away the toys and be a blessing to their father. They should be in the kitchen helping momma or in the garage with daddy working!
2. As born-again children of God then we should, after 12 years of salvation, be about our Heavenly Father’s business. We should no longer need to be entertained or self-centered but should be working for our Father.
If, after 12 years, your children still can’t walk, feed themselves, dress themselves, or talk, we think they are backward. After 12 years as a Christian there are some things we should have outgrown and some things we should know. Babies need to grow . . . it takes a good 12 years to grow to the point of usability for Jesus. See why it’s important to get saved young? (That’s why it is important to disciple those you win to Christ.) Just think, if you get saved at 5 then at 17 you are ready to teach a class or be a missionary. (Heb 5:12)
Baby Christians are new Christians. They should have spiritual parents that help them grow. There is almost no way that a new born Christian can grow on his own. Just as a baby born of the flesh must have help to grow to maturity so must a spiritual baby.
Some Interesting Facts about Babies
1. Everyone loves babies - but an 8 year old acting like a baby is not cute. A church full of babies is fun and exciting but there needs to be some maturity there to help grow those babies or we have a bunch of retarded Christians.
2. Babies choke on meat - Meat is the deep things of God . . . Standards are deep. People just don’t understand the deep things of God. Can you imagine teaching a 3 month old baby how to multiply? Well how in the world can you expect a 3 month old Christian to multiply (win souls). It must be taught slowly and gradually. Some Christians, just like some babies, mature more rapidly that others but all normal babies can be mature by age 12.
3. Babies want constant attention - We have to teach our children little by little to stand alone. When you are spiritually training someone you have to give them a lot of attention or they will not make it as a Christian. (Prov 29:15) ... but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
4. Babies are self-centered - They want everything done their way.
5. Babies get sick easily - They catch attitudes. That is why you need to watch who your converts hang around.
6. Babies cry and complain - They have to be taught to be content. Sometimes you may chastise them and maybe tell them, “Now, Melinda, you are being a little critical. I am sure Jill didn’t mean anything by that.”Just as you would a earthly baby.
7. Babies have no modesty - Babies don’t see anything wrong with showing their thighs.(Isaiah 47:2-3)
8. Babies have no sense of danger - They don’t see anything wrong with rock music. They don’t see what’s wrong with mixed swimming. Just as fleshy babies have to be protected from a hot stove, we have to protect our spiritual children from a sin.
9. Babies get dirty quickly - Backslide! However, when a baby gets dirty what does the parent do? Well, that is what the spiritual parent should do . . . help clean them up!
10. Babies can’t handle responsibility - That is why we have a 6 months waiting period for teaching a Sunday school class. We need to know if you are a baby pretending to be an adult . . . you know . . . playing dress-up. You know, if you give me a few minutes alone with a child I can pretty much guess their physical age. If you give me a few minutes alone with a child of God I can pretty much guess their spiritual age.
11. Babies want to play all the time - They complain if church goes over 12:00. They can’t pray or study their Bible because it is over their head. That is why they need spiritual parents to tell them the Bible stories, teach them to read, and whet their appetite so they read on their own.
12. Babies need boundaries defined and repeated - Babies have to be told over and over what is right or wrong. They just can’t see it. They are very short-sighted.
13. Babies are takers - Gimmy! They have to be taught to give.
A Good Test of Maturity -
Jesus at 12 was:
1. He was at church
2. He was responsible
3. He hung around the right crowd
4. He hungered for truth
5. He was respectful
6. He listened to counsel
7. He was obedient to authority
8. He was totally dedicated to God (godly)
9. He was teaching others about His father
10. He had a purpose (Goal)
11. He had a pleasant personality
Here are what spiritual parents need to give their spiritual children:
1. Proper atmosphere (Friendship and companionship) If they don’t hang around you then they will hang around somebody.
2. Nourishment (Food) You need to feed them at first.
3. Rest (Church) You get them there if you have to.
4. Exercise (Soulwinning) Take them with you. Church work also is applicable here.
Now, the reason we have Sunday School. . . It’s not ideal but its similar to a nursery . . . it takes up where parents are failing as spiritual leaders. We have got to win people to the Lord. We are only human so we can’t disciple everyone we reach but we should try our best. Sunday school is for the multitude that needs growing but don’t have the spiritual leadership they need. That is why we have Sunday school standards . . . to grow kids similarly so the kids can grow their full 12 years without contradictions. Remember consistency is the key to good parenting. If a kid gets one teacher that says you don’t have to go to Sunday school and another says you do, then you have a contradiction before spiritual maturity and you lose that kid. Yes, our kids are in Sunday school but when their 12 years of spiritual maturity is up they need to be prepared for their spiritual future.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Problems People with Little Faith Face
Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Naturally the world lacks faith....but so does the church! As a pastor’s wife I see the lack of faith daily. People don’t truly believe God anymore.
• Marriages break up because people don’t believe God can make their marriage great.
• Women don’t believe the part of the Bible that says to reverence her husband. “It may work for Mrs. Lisa but it you don’t know my husband.” etc.
• People run to Egypt for financial help because they don’t believe the Bible when it says “My God shall supply all your need.”
And I could go on and on. I’ve heard every excuse.
Even the Isrealites who saw the great miracles of God (parting of the Red Sea, the Manna, the earth opening up, the shoes that never wore out, the many battles won) didn’t have faith in God.
Deu 1:31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.
Deu 1:32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,
And they didn’t please God and life was tougher for them because they chose their own way instead of God’s.
Thoughts on faith:
1. Faithless people are the most miserable ones in the church:
Deu 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
And in all their “frowardness” they drive a wedge between them and God (an often other people). Their prayers don’t get answered because God rewards faith.....not faithlessness.
These are the people that it is said, “They are always miserable. They never smile. I can’t please them.”
2. Faithless people are a fearful people.• Fearful that there won’t be enough money to pay the bills (or a McDonald hamburger)
• Fearful of bumps in the night
• Fearful of people
• Scared you won’t have any friends
• Afraid of “stepping out on faith”
Mat 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
(If you study this story you will see that Jesus SENT them into the storm. Storms are actually good for us. They reveal our faith or lack of faith.)
Mar 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
3. Faithless people are disobedient to Jesus’ command.• This makes them disobedient
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (Not a suggestion!)
4. Faithless people have trouble believing in God.
Trusting in God for all your needs to be met. Beleiving that He loves you and will never fail you. It is not taking a single thought on how you will be provided for.
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
5. Faithless people have fewer blessings.
Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
6. Faithless people will sink when storms come.
Mat 14:25-31 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
7. Faithless people confuse works with faith.“Well I teach Sunday school. I go to church. I tithe.” These things are good....but they don’t please God. Remember that Muslims, Buddhist, and Jehovah Witness’ teach, attend church, and tithe, too.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
8. Faithless people should realize that faith is easy to get and keep.
However, it will be tried and tested. During the trials just keep on doing what you do to get faith (the Word of God) and you’ll keep it through the storms.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Naturally the world lacks faith....but so does the church! As a pastor’s wife I see the lack of faith daily. People don’t truly believe God anymore.
• Marriages break up because people don’t believe God can make their marriage great.
• Women don’t believe the part of the Bible that says to reverence her husband. “It may work for Mrs. Lisa but it you don’t know my husband.” etc.
• People run to Egypt for financial help because they don’t believe the Bible when it says “My God shall supply all your need.”
And I could go on and on. I’ve heard every excuse.
Even the Isrealites who saw the great miracles of God (parting of the Red Sea, the Manna, the earth opening up, the shoes that never wore out, the many battles won) didn’t have faith in God.
Deu 1:31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.
Deu 1:32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,
And they didn’t please God and life was tougher for them because they chose their own way instead of God’s.
Thoughts on faith:
1. Faithless people are the most miserable ones in the church:
Deu 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
And in all their “frowardness” they drive a wedge between them and God (an often other people). Their prayers don’t get answered because God rewards faith.....not faithlessness.
These are the people that it is said, “They are always miserable. They never smile. I can’t please them.”
2. Faithless people are a fearful people.• Fearful that there won’t be enough money to pay the bills (or a McDonald hamburger)
• Fearful of bumps in the night
• Fearful of people
• Scared you won’t have any friends
• Afraid of “stepping out on faith”
Mat 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
(If you study this story you will see that Jesus SENT them into the storm. Storms are actually good for us. They reveal our faith or lack of faith.)
Mar 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
3. Faithless people are disobedient to Jesus’ command.• This makes them disobedient
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (Not a suggestion!)
4. Faithless people have trouble believing in God.
Trusting in God for all your needs to be met. Beleiving that He loves you and will never fail you. It is not taking a single thought on how you will be provided for.
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
5. Faithless people have fewer blessings.
Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
6. Faithless people will sink when storms come.
Mat 14:25-31 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
7. Faithless people confuse works with faith.“Well I teach Sunday school. I go to church. I tithe.” These things are good....but they don’t please God. Remember that Muslims, Buddhist, and Jehovah Witness’ teach, attend church, and tithe, too.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
8. Faithless people should realize that faith is easy to get and keep.
However, it will be tried and tested. During the trials just keep on doing what you do to get faith (the Word of God) and you’ll keep it through the storms.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Friday, January 2, 2009
4 Things on my heart:
The Bible has so much on these subjects that I am not touching the surface. Most people really don’t care what the Bible says. I’ve had people tell me "I know what the Bible says but God will forgive me."
1. Kindness
I want to teach you a song: Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
We don’t have to tell everything we feel. We don't have to be so blunt. You may say, "well, it’s my personality."
Pr 29:11 ¶ A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Pr 12:16 ¶ A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
I hear often, "Sometimes people think I am mad when I am not." This is a serious problem. I feel like it should be corrected. If people think you are mad then it is because you LOOK mad or SOUND mad. And I’d almost be willing to bet that you probably are quick-tempered or easily angered. Consider asking God to help your countenance.
Remember the story of Joseph? He seemingly had ever right to be unkind.
Ge 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
King Rehoboam wondered how to lead his people. He asked counsel of two groups. One was the old men and the other was the young. Here is the counsel of the old men.
2Ch 10:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
When you must rebuke someone (even in a church situation) try doing what the Bible says: (And you don’t have to rebuke everyone about everything. Be selective with your rebukes. Why hurt people?)
Pr 15:1 ¶ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Would you be considered a Proverbs 31 woman?
Pr 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
This should be applied to visitors. Every maturing Christian should get out of their seat and welcome visitors.
2. Building your house
I want to talk to you about the way a woman should treat her husband. I have had my feel of mean women. Where are these girls learning this hateful, meanness that spews from their mouths? Has sex won you the right to be hateful? Because you have something you can hold over your husband’s head you feel you can demand him to obey you? I agree, we have weak men who don’t know how to handle a mean woman....but it is time that we, as women learn to treat our husbands well!
Pr 14:1 ¶ Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Hands represent work. A foolish woman plucks down everything a man does. He can’t do anything right for you. Has your house increased?
Pr 9:13 ¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:--clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.
Does it not bother you that God says you are a fool? Do you not care? If you do not care about this is it any wonder that your house is not a beautiful example of God’s grace and goodness? Is it not any wonder that your kids rebel?
Pr 31:10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
It saddens me that we have churches full of proud, arrogant women. No man is going to tell them what to do. Or they go from man to man hoping to find one that satisfies them....and they never will. Satisfaction comes from giving, loving, and sacrificing. Contentment is a conscious act. You must determine that you are going to build your husband into something wonderful.
Quit nagging.
3. Loyalty
How can people just walk out of a marriage or walk out of church and never come back. They are not loyal. This is a character trait that my husband and daughter are very strong in. My husband should have left me many times over. Everyone would have agreed with him in leaving me. But he was loyal. You can stab April in the back a hundred times and she may break fellowship but she never quits hurting over you. She always will seek ways to help you get right.
Pr 17:17 ¶ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Mt 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:
De 23:23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. (It doesn’t say what you mean in your heart....it says what you said with your mouth!)
Nu 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Now imagine with me....a kid. Their mother ask them to clean their room. They look at momma and say, "NO!" So their mother says, "You better get in their in clean your room now! I am your mother and you better obey me." And the kids says, "I don’t care what you say....I am NOT going to obey you!" Would you think that kids loves her mother? Of course not! Well, this is what you have done to God! You have said, "I don’t care what the Bible says....I am NOT going to work my marriage out."
What if that kids says, "I am a special circumstance....I just KNOW you will show me mercy." That parent is going to say, "You must obey me. You are NOT a special circumstance...you are a rebel." And how would you look at that kid? Would you trust that kid? Would you want to be around that kid? (Even if the sin is not toward you?)
I know people are going to disobey the word. They aren’t going to be loyal to God, church, family or anything. And how we should respond to such persons is a whole other lesson.
4. And the last thing is How to treat people who are unkind to you.
Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.
How should we respond when someone rebukes you and they are unkind, blunt or just plain out of their realm of authority.
We should respond with love. And we must also be careful that we are not the ones who are rude in the first place. We should find our self-worth in how we treat others, not in how they treat us. We can't control how others treat us. But we can control how we treat others. So what should we do?
Mt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mt 7:12 ¶ Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
1. Kindness
I want to teach you a song: Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
We don’t have to tell everything we feel. We don't have to be so blunt. You may say, "well, it’s my personality."
Pr 29:11 ¶ A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Pr 12:16 ¶ A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
I hear often, "Sometimes people think I am mad when I am not." This is a serious problem. I feel like it should be corrected. If people think you are mad then it is because you LOOK mad or SOUND mad. And I’d almost be willing to bet that you probably are quick-tempered or easily angered. Consider asking God to help your countenance.
Remember the story of Joseph? He seemingly had ever right to be unkind.
Ge 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
King Rehoboam wondered how to lead his people. He asked counsel of two groups. One was the old men and the other was the young. Here is the counsel of the old men.
2Ch 10:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
When you must rebuke someone (even in a church situation) try doing what the Bible says: (And you don’t have to rebuke everyone about everything. Be selective with your rebukes. Why hurt people?)
Pr 15:1 ¶ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Would you be considered a Proverbs 31 woman?
Pr 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
This should be applied to visitors. Every maturing Christian should get out of their seat and welcome visitors.
2. Building your house
I want to talk to you about the way a woman should treat her husband. I have had my feel of mean women. Where are these girls learning this hateful, meanness that spews from their mouths? Has sex won you the right to be hateful? Because you have something you can hold over your husband’s head you feel you can demand him to obey you? I agree, we have weak men who don’t know how to handle a mean woman....but it is time that we, as women learn to treat our husbands well!
Pr 14:1 ¶ Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Hands represent work. A foolish woman plucks down everything a man does. He can’t do anything right for you. Has your house increased?
Pr 9:13 ¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:--clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.
Does it not bother you that God says you are a fool? Do you not care? If you do not care about this is it any wonder that your house is not a beautiful example of God’s grace and goodness? Is it not any wonder that your kids rebel?
Pr 31:10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
It saddens me that we have churches full of proud, arrogant women. No man is going to tell them what to do. Or they go from man to man hoping to find one that satisfies them....and they never will. Satisfaction comes from giving, loving, and sacrificing. Contentment is a conscious act. You must determine that you are going to build your husband into something wonderful.
Quit nagging.
3. Loyalty
How can people just walk out of a marriage or walk out of church and never come back. They are not loyal. This is a character trait that my husband and daughter are very strong in. My husband should have left me many times over. Everyone would have agreed with him in leaving me. But he was loyal. You can stab April in the back a hundred times and she may break fellowship but she never quits hurting over you. She always will seek ways to help you get right.
Pr 17:17 ¶ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Mt 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:
De 23:23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. (It doesn’t say what you mean in your heart....it says what you said with your mouth!)
Nu 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Now imagine with me....a kid. Their mother ask them to clean their room. They look at momma and say, "NO!" So their mother says, "You better get in their in clean your room now! I am your mother and you better obey me." And the kids says, "I don’t care what you say....I am NOT going to obey you!" Would you think that kids loves her mother? Of course not! Well, this is what you have done to God! You have said, "I don’t care what the Bible says....I am NOT going to work my marriage out."
What if that kids says, "I am a special circumstance....I just KNOW you will show me mercy." That parent is going to say, "You must obey me. You are NOT a special circumstance...you are a rebel." And how would you look at that kid? Would you trust that kid? Would you want to be around that kid? (Even if the sin is not toward you?)
I know people are going to disobey the word. They aren’t going to be loyal to God, church, family or anything. And how we should respond to such persons is a whole other lesson.
4. And the last thing is How to treat people who are unkind to you.
Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.
How should we respond when someone rebukes you and they are unkind, blunt or just plain out of their realm of authority.
We should respond with love. And we must also be careful that we are not the ones who are rude in the first place. We should find our self-worth in how we treat others, not in how they treat us. We can't control how others treat us. But we can control how we treat others. So what should we do?
Mt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mt 7:12 ¶ Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
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