Words Have Power!

Words have power. We as Christians should truly believe that. Often we don't even consider what we are saying or to who we are saying it, we simply say what we are feeling. Many times that feeling is not a good one, and those words are embodied with our pain and our sorrow. We pray for something without considering what it will be like when it comes to pass, and then we complain when it does happen! How many times have we prayed Lord I don't want to go to work, please don't make me have to go to work. Then we wake up one day and our car won't start.. then we start complaining, God how could you let this happen? I need to get to work!

Mathew 11:12-14 & 19-25

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.

When evening came, they went out of the city.

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Do we really believe the words of Jesus? Do you pray knowing that God will answer your prayers? Or do you pray and then worry day in and out if it's going to happen? Many will tell you that God doesn't answer prayer, but I disagree. Jesus told me he does! If you pray that your day will go better, that you won't have as much stress, don't go through the day worrying about things. Let go and just go through your day, live knowing that he is answering that prayer. If you ask God for joy, turn around and be joyous! Know that God will answer the moment you ask, and if you don't have the words? Or can't bear to say them? He'll say them for you! The Spirit of God will intercede with groanings!

Romans 8:26 - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Remember that when you say something it comes to pass! Don't go out cursing someone or yelling at someone wishing them ill, you may regret it! Jesus, having the faith in God that we should have, simply cursed a tree and it died! How many times have you said something to someone and regreted it? "I wish you would just go away forever!", "I hate you! Leave me alone!", "Just go die somewhere!" or even worse, how many times have you heard someone throw out the phrase "Go to hell!" Do you really wish that on anyone? Words do indeed have power. Speak only that which you want to come to pass, and if you truly don't want it to happen, don't say it. Mama always told me, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"

In Christ,
Brian

Two become One!

Relationships have been coming up a lot lately, and I feel that many of us can always use reminders about what a Biblical marriage, and even a biblical courtship can be about. One of the biggest problems we have in today's society is that both people in the relationship aren't giving 100% of themselves. They enter a relationship intending to have their own this, and their own that. We often forget that as Christians we believe that when we are married, two become one.

Genesis 2:24 - For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

You see, even our secular legal system takes this to heart. (Though many are trying to make legal documents to keep them marriage from being binding.) When a man marries a woman, he and she are both an entity as far as the law is concerned. What she owes becomes his debt, and what he owes becomes her debt. A popular joke is that what is mine is hers, and what is hers is hers! We can laugh about that, but in reality we should be saying, What is ours is ours!

How much more pleasant will our marriages be if we simply stop thinking of our spouse as another person, but an extension of ourself. Would we say cruel things to ourselvs? Would we purposely beat ourselves up? Would we hit ourselves? If someone beats themselves up we consider that person to have some mental issues. Likewise we consider people who beat up their spouses to have mental issues as well. In a healthy relationship, we edify one another, that is we say good things about one another, and help each other with our burdens. As the proverb goes, Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. (Proverbs 12:18)

A very powerful statement, And "don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry"(Ephesians 4:26), this can be so important for a husband and wife, or even a dating couple. Even if you believe you are right, even if you are 100% convinced that you are the correct one in the argument... go appologize before you go to sleep. Tell her you are sorry for harboring ill feelings. That you didn't mean to get so mad at her! The same should be true for the wife. It is amazing how beautiful a relationship becomes when one puts their spouses feelings above the need to be 'correct' at all times.

One other thing to consider, is where your spouse is coming from when he/she comes to you with advice. It's really difficult sometimes to know that they mean the best, or that their heart was really where it should have been. Often times one explodes instead of receiving their counsel. The hardest thing in the world is when you think your wife is disappointed with you, or when you think your husband is upset for some reason. Try to understand where he/she is coming from. Is it from a warm place in their heart? Even if they aren't good at vocalizing it in a polite way, are they really just trying to love you? To show you they pay attention to your action? They respect your opinion? Remember that your wife/husband should be your BEST friend. There should never really be a need to go somewhere else for the companionship that you should already have with that spouse. I'm not saying you shouldn't have friends, just that we should never be going to others for the things that we should be getting in our marriage.

What do I mean by that? I mean that if you need intimacy, someone to share something private with, it should be your spouse. You shouldn't be sitting at the computer late at night sharing with a stranger though the internet something you haven't even told your significant other. You shouldn't be taking phone calls on your cell phone that your wife has no knowledge of, and that you have no intention of telling her. Nor should you be having meetings that your wife/husband does not know about, say when you are out of town working, or they are.

Remember carefully this following verse, from the letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Put your name in the place of love, and see if you are doing it right. Would your spouse say you are patient? Would he/she say your are kind? Would they say you are not irritable? Would your spouse say you are quick to forgive? Would your spouse say you do not boast or are humble? Would he/she say your polite to her at all times?

Remember, more especially, love never gives up! You should never give up! You should always be trying to make your spouses life as pleasant as possible, and sharing your dreams! Your heartfelt desires! Your passions for God! As St. Peter said, Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

In Christ,
Brian

Who will we see in Heaven? Jesus? The Father? The spirit? All three?

A friend of mine posted the question, When we get to heaven, I know we will see Jesus, but will we also see the Father? The Holy Spirit?

One of the best things about the book of Revelations is it gives us a glimpse into what heaven will be like. The angels singing worship and praise, the saints joining them, the martyrs crying out from under the alter, the Lord sitting on the throne. Let's take a look at who we see.

We see in Revelations that we see God on the throne Revelations 4 - And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. This is a description in Johns words of seeing God himself.

Jesus is mentioned later as ministering at the alter, offering himself as a sacrifice. God is still on the throne, and Jesus is also present and separate.

Revelations 5:5-6 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

So yes, you will see God the Father and Jesus, the Holy Spirit itself exists between them. The spirit of Love and Truth that they share in harmony. Many indicate that the seven spirits of God in front of his throne are all one and the same, the Holy Spirit but seen as 7, because 7 is the number for biblical perfection. It means completion and rest. The Spirit is the completion of the trinity, and it is what brings us joy and peace (rest.)

In Isaiah we see that the spirit of God is a seven fold spirit. Isaiah 11:2 "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD." Then again in Ezekial we see Ezekial 1:10-12 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out upward; each had two wings, one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and two wings covering its body. Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went."

So we see that in Isaiah's vision there were four angels that did the bidding of God's spirit, the Holy Spirit. Now let's look at revelations in the description of those angels.

Revelations 4 5-6 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spiritsa of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back

We see a direct corelation between the 7 spirits of God and the Holy Spirit from these verses. The 7 descriptions of the spirit of God, the spirit of the Lord (Holy Spirit) who imparts wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and reverential awe! We also can see that these are indeed the spirit of God before the throne of God, by this statement in Revelations 1:4-5 Grace and Peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness. You see only God can impart grace and peace. This verse reminds us that all three are one, but separate. So the simple answer is, all three are God but we will indeed see all three as separate people in Heaven.

In Christ,
Brian

Why does God permit bad things to good people?

I think this is an excellent question, though I think it's worded in a way to make a negative answer. Someone mentioned recently about how could God allow a man like me, who works for God and tries to do God's will, to need to have his spine fused. Or how I could have a condition like nephritis. Why does God allow good things to happen to good people? First, I have to admit I don't consider myself a good person. Rather a flawed one, one clinging to grace, and trying to do what's right. But I do think this question needs an answer, and many just haven't seen it.

God is in control, I think all Christians agree in that. But we are also taught that God will not allow us to go through anything we cannot handle. Like Job we may indeed have to bear many burdens, and pick up a heavy cross, and follow our Lord. Just like Job, it was by God's permission that the things were allowed to be done to him. We know that God allows it, but do we really understand that God may also be preventing a good deal of pain?

Take my back for instance. I had a condition called scheuermann's kyphosis. My back had always had it's problems, but towards the end of 2006 early 2007 it got to be a very difficult burden. I had trouble sitting for any length of time, and I had trouble standing. I came home from work in terrible pain, and was simply unable to bear it. I ended up having titanum rods put in my spine. 26 screws, and 6 feet of rod. I still struggle with some tasks, and if I over do it I will have to spend some time laying down the next day.

Why would God allow that to happen? Or better yet what if instead I ask, what did God prevent? We know that God gave the surgeon the ability to fix my back. My back isn't getting worse anymore, and now I know my organs will not eventually be crushed by the worsening of my spine. I'm in pain, but no more than before. Instead of progressively getting worse, I am remaining pretty much the same. You see, I'm not going to die from it, and God gave us that knowledge and guided the surgeons hands to prevent me from dieing on the table.

I don't think God creates a great deal of the pain that we experience, though He could prevent it. How much of our diseases and hardships are we creating in our own food? Our diet? Science has proven that meat consumption is directly linked with cancer promotion, but we still eat meat. Science has proven that chlorine and flouride are detremintal to our health, but we still put it in our water. We know that pesticides get absorbed in our bodies and in our foods, but we still allow them to put pushed on to the food that we eat. I believe a great deal of cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and many other disorders could be solved simply by diet alone. While God permits us to do our own free will, we are truly to blame for a vast majority of the pain in the world.

We create the imbalance in the world by destroying rain forests, by feeding 80% of our grain to build meat and dairy, when it could be feeding the world. God isn't really sitting by and causing calamity, we really are in our own hearts. Could God stop you from doing things that harm the environment or each other? Yes he could. Instead though He has given us free will, will to choose what is right over what is wrong, and He has left those cohices to you and I. We also have to remember that God can do many things, but in the end He also chose to let Jesus die on the cross, for us. He could have at any moment lifted Himself off the cross, and rebuked all around who were harming Him. But He didn't, He instead extended forgiveness to those around and to all of us.

There is a beautiful movie, called the Robe, that illustrates this perfectly. Peter tells Marcellus (forgive me if I got the names wrong, it's been years since I read that book) that he has to meet this young girl, who Christ healed. When she comes into the scene, she can't walk. Her legs don't work. How could Christ have healed this young girl? She is still crippled! Instead she tells Marcellus the story of her healing, how that she was bitter and angry and now she was full of peace and joy! You see healing isn't always physical, but it IS always spiritual.

Who knows how much worse things could have been? What has God put his hand down and said, No you shall not harm this child anymore. How many times did he save someone from being shot in a robbery? They were still mugged, but they are alive! They could have been killed, and that alone is a blessing from God. How many times have you seen someone in a car wreck, where the car was totally smashed and the person walked away without a scratch? I've seen it first hand with my cousin Tate. The doctor said that if the steering wheel had gone in one inch more, Tate would have been dead. He was beat up, and hurt.. but he lived. How many times has God helped you by carrying you when you thought you couldn't walk, or how many times has he given someone 10 or 15 more years than they would have had? Sometimes we forget when someone dies that they were in pain, and maybe, just maybe they couldn't have taken it anymore. Or maybe, they were supposed to have died years ago, but God gave them a few more years for our sake?

We definitely have to begin looking for the blessings in our life, and not the curses. Looking to see God's love multiplied around us, and not looking to see what he hasn't done. We need to start giving from our hearts, until every child is fed! Every person is clothed! And starvation is a thing of the past. We need to educate and put our bodies to doing God's work. Let's start helping one another, and sharing the Grace that our Father has extended to us.

In Christ,
Brian

How can I pray without ceasing?

Prayer is many faceted. That is there are different forms. Sometimes part of prayer is listening. The point is that we should be in communion with God at all times. How do we do this? First, we do actual prayer. Whether it's four minutes a day, 10 minutes, an hour.. each person has a different prayer life. They should do as much as they can personally, and as much as God leads them to do.

Sometimes I sit with my wife in complete silence. I even study her face, or smile and watch her as she does her college homework, or fixes some papers for work. She knows I'm there, and knows all she has to do is say something, and I'll get up and help her or get something for her.

This is part of what God wants from us. Even when we are watching TV or working in the garden, or at work. We should be listening for His prompting, and ever ready to jump and do His bidding.

We also look for God in others. The Bible reminds us that when we do something for the 'least of these' we are doing it for Christ. Part of our prayerful outlook on life is to consistently look for ways to help people, serve one another, and thus serve God.

Then there are specific times we can pray. At dinner, before we eat and even after. It's easy to give thanks while hungry, much more so remembering to thank God once our stomach's are full! We can thank God in the morning when the sun comes up. At night when we see a beautiful moon. St. Francis once woke an entire village up with the warning bell, yelling look at the Moon. He was so enamored with the beauty of God's creation that he wanted to share it. He even went out and preached to 'creation' literally. Was found often preaching to animals in the wilderness, or picking up worms and moving them out of wagon tracks so they wouldn't be killed.

Is that a bit extreme? Maybe. It does remind us though that our lives are filled with blessings. In our communion with God we need to see that those blessings are there, and give thanks for them. When we see a child behaving exceptionally well, we know that God has a hand in that. When we see a bird feeding it's young, we know God has a hand in that as well.

Prayer is about remember that our bodies are a temple for God. That each breath, action, though should embody that. Giving thanks to God for everything, even when it's difficult to do so. For the good and the bad. Vocally at times, in thought at others, on our knees when appropriate, and even when simply walking through the yard. Even washing dishes can be a powerful reminder to thank God. Remember that he created the wood that a beautiful platter is made of, and he created the 'creativity' that went into making that platter! That when we see a beautiful painting it reminds us that God was the original creator, the original painter! That the rainbow in the sky is God's creation and that each breath we take is filled with a reminder that God gave us that breath, He breathed it directly into man and quickened his mortal body! Prayer is not just listing things that we have to be thankful for, but simply existing with God in our bodies.

The Bible says the spirit utters groans that cannot be put to words, when we have no words to say. Prayer is much like that at times. God knows our hearts, and where they are dwelling. By thinking on things of heaven, love, faith, hope, charity etc, we are existing in a state of prayer. So even when we are vegging out, not really paying attention, our hearts are still calling out to Him. That is what continual prayer is. Calling out to God, even when we aren't saying a single word.

We Christians must live ever present to the current moment. Not dwelling in the past on our failures, or worrying for the future. Simply living in the moment and knowing that God will provide what we need, and calling out for Him, searching for His face. Continually doing His work, and reminding our mind to think His thoughts. Through love and through the power of the Holy Spirit we can be transformed. Transformed in ways we cannot do alone. Until our life is no longer a reflection of ourselves, but of the divine love and radiant grace of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

In Christ,
Brian

How can our burden be easy, when we have a cross to bear?

Simon of Cyrene. A man who had a huge role in history and in the most important events in the redemption of man. He was the man who, when Jesus fell and could no longer bear the cross, was compelled to lift it up and carry it for Him. It's difficult to think that God in the form of a man, was so weak He could no longer carry it. The God in Him was strong, but the man in Him was just like you and I. He could only go so far, before He needed help.

You see God was using Simon for many things. Many believe he was the Simeone mention in acts, and I do believe that myself. God called Simon to carry the cross, not because God couldn't have given His mortal body strength, but to teach us one of the most important lessons that we as Christians need to know.

Each of us bears a cross! We are compelled to do just that. That cross is our flesh and our lives, our temptation and tribulations. That cross can get so heavy that our yokes no longer seem light, and our burdens seem bigger than any mountain. But we are also compelled to do something even more magnificent and beautiful, to carry each others crosses! We are not just to be concerned with our own walk, but to reach out when someone is under a huge load and offer to carry it for them or with them.

When someone has a death in the family we can help with that cross by cooking some food, sending a card, simply being there for them! When someone is down on their luck, we can leave a simple envelope in their mailbox with a few dollars in it. A note saying Jesus loves you. Mowing their yard, or helping them replace a car part. God has given each of us knowledge to do things. Some are electricians, some are concrete workers, some can sew, some are good with taxes. We as the body should be doing these things not only as a profession and not only for our families, but for the entire body of Christ. Finding someone who needs a light replaced, a blanket fixed for their child, a concrete pad for their driveway. Help someone who has trouble with numbers do their taxes, or someone who can't cook learn to do so. We are to be like Simon and pick up the cross of the body of Christ. To help the body bear their burden, and to help shoulder the load. Then we see why Jesus said, "For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

Go out and serve one another, not just in preaching the gospel, but physically get out and use your God given gifts to make life here on Earth, more like our life in Heaven. We cannot simply pray Thy will be done, and live as if it hasn't. Let us love one another so much, that the world cannot help but say, look at those Christians... their love for God is evident in their actions.

In Christ,
Brian

Suffer not the children

Today, after everyone returned from the church service, my wife, children, and I decided to go out and eat together at a decently nice restuarant. We all piled into the car and drove about twenty five minutes to get to this place that we really enjoy. The food, music, atmosphere, all of it just really jives with us. As we got there we noticed the parking lot was exceptionally full. The hostess informed us it would probably be twenty, twenty five minutes before we could get in. So we decided we would wait.

We sat there in the little entry way waiting patiently as people came and went. There were several benches, and most of them unoccupied. My youngest ran back and forth sitting on different areas, playing with her baby doll. Finally she ran up to me, and jumped in my lap. She said, I love you daddy. Then curled up and just sat there while I rocked her with my knee. For a few minutes I was living a moment of what I believe Heaven is made of.

She was content just to be there in my arms. She knew that she could safely jump in my lap and didn't need permission. She didn't hestitate, or say is it ok. She simply took for granted that daddy was there and she was safe. That she could relax and even drift in her thoughts to the music in the room.

When was the last time we thought of God that way? God is our Father. Often we think of Him as the stoic, unyielding judge who will exact vengeance. How often do we remember that He is our Father, and we are safe in His arms. We are forgiven and can without any hesitance, any fear walk up to Him and sit in His lap. That he will wrap His peaceful arms around us and never question the moment. That we don't need permission to be with our Father, we just simply can be! How often do we have faith that we are completely forgiven, and that our Father is simply waiting for us, patiently and lovingly to want His affection and touch. We must be like little children, confident not because we have earned it, but simply trusting in the love of our God.

I pray that each of us will have our eyes opened, until we can see God the Father for who He truly is. The loving, forgiving and patient God. The one whose arms hold us when we cry, whose knee bounces us when we need pacified, and whose hand reaches out to pick us up when we fall. That we will learn to not simply provide lip service to the acceptance of grace, but to truly believe in our hearts that we are forgiven! That we are the children of God! To truly understand that grace and not only accept it, but to run out and share it! To shout it from the rooftops and from the sidewalks! To say, My God, my father, I know that you have forgiven me though I do not deserve it! Thank you Father for your wonderful, magnificent grace that covers all my sins! Help me to show others your true, and perfect love!

In Christ,
Brian

On A Hyssop Branch

John Chapter 19 -29 "A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Many of us have read these two small lines. However, do we really undrestand the spiritual signifigance of them? In Psalm 51, a contrite King David is praying for forgiveness when he utters, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." - Psalm 51:7 What does that mean? First, and foremost it means that we are now covered by the blood of the Lamb. John knew when writing this the signifigance of mentiong hyssop in this line.

During the first passover, which is indeed a shadow of the crucifixion, God instructed His people(Israel) to smear the blood of an unblemished lamb over their door jambs. He instructed them to do this, so that when the angel of death flew over Egypt to kill the first born the angel would pass over the Israelites. "Take a bunch of hyssop leaves and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and smear it on the two sides and top of the door-frame. Then, none of you is to go out the door of his house until morning." -Exodus 12:22

Did God or His angel need the blood on the door jamb to know who the Israelites were? Of course not. He was showing us that just as it is now, life then was sacred. The life blood of an innocent lamb was used to cover the people of Israel. Today, we are doing the same thing. We are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect and unblemished eternal lamb who was made propitiation for us with the father.

There is another thing we can learn from these versus, and that is fulfillment. Wine with gall was used as a pain killer, or an anesthetic. Many believed that was what is going on, at the cross. Jesus refused it, which means he purposely went through the pain. He could have deadened the pain, but instead he bore our suffering in full.. The soldier was mocking Him (which fulfills another prophecy), but in the mocking of our Lord he also fulfilled another scripture. Psalm 69, 19-21 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

Today let us remember that Jesus fulfilled over 400 scriptures in the New Testament alone. The odds that one man can fulfill that many scriptures is well under 1 in 8,749,002,899,132,047,697,490,008,908,470,485,461,412,677,723,572,849,745,703,082,425,639,811,996,797,503,692,894,052,708,092,215,296. think about that number for a minute. It's staggering. If Jesus had fulfilled 1 scripture, we could easily say well anyone can do that. But he fulfilled over 400 that we know of. John also says, Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. John 21:25. Think about that as well. We don't know everything Jesus did. There is so much more that we just don't have a record of. He may very well, and probably did fulfill all prophecies about the Messiah. After all, we believe he is indeed that Messiah.

Let us worship and praise God, because we know there are more prophecies to be fulfilled at the second coming! Let us live in constant communion with the Father, with our lamps filled with oil that we may be found ready and waiting!

In Christ,
Brian

Have we truly examined our hearts?

This lenten season it is important for us to be fully aware of what grace really means. Tonight at awakening faith we were given a handout that puts it into a perspective that many of us may, or may not be aware of. All to often we may say, ah well I've never killed anyone, I'm a pretty good person. There are different depths to that commandment though that we often do not consider. Jesus told is that if we were angry with someone else, then we were gulity of breaking the commandment, and thus are in danger of judgment. Mathew 5:22. He also told us that if we looked at a woman in lust we were guilty of adultery. Mathew 5:28

You see God wnats us to live by the ultimate commandment, to love him with all of our heart, body and soul. Then secondly love our neighbors as ourselves. As we draw near to communion in many churches, and to reconciliation in others, let us examine our hearts. Let us look at who we truly are and ask for forgivness from our Father, God.

The following list is not given to condemn you. I only give it because I felt it was a true reminder and truly helped me to examine my heart. I pray that it will do the same for you.



1. I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods besides me.

Do I worship God in spirit and truth and give him the praise due him?
Do I make a god out of my work or my possessions, so that these rule my life instead of God?Have I tried to grow in the knowledge of God through daily prayer and scripture reading?
Have I ever dabbled in the occult or given credence to horoscopes, Ouija boards, channeling, tarot cards, or fortune telling?
Have I taken time to teach my family about the ways of God and pray with them?

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Have I been hypocritical by adhering to a ritualistic observance while not actually living out my faith in practice?
Have I resorted to profane language by cursing and swearing?
In conversation, have I passively acceded to slander and to jokes aimed at demeaning religion, the church, or God's authority?

3. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Have I allowed myself to become so dominated by my work or chores that I have not set aside Sunday for spiritual and family acitivities?
Do I honor God by particiipating in communion each time it is offered?
In my prayer and attendance at the liturgy, am I content with a passive observance rather than devoting myself to genuine worship of the Lord?

4. Honor your father and your mother.

As a young person in the family home, do I listen to, respect and obey my parents when they instruct me?
As an adult, do I visit and care for my parents in their old age?
Do I harbor short-term resentments against my parents?
Do I blame my parents for my own shortcomings?

5. Thou shalt not kill.

Have I ever advocated abortion, either through my opinions in conversation or by actively assisting someone in procuring an abortion?
Have I ever endangered myself or the life of another person through the taking of drugs or the abuse of alcohol?
Have I ever contemplated or attempted suicide?
Have I ever struck anyhone in anger, intending to injure them?
Do I recognize my sin in my anger or do I savor it?
Am I angry, bitter, or resentful toward anyone, particularly a family member?

6. You shall not commit adultery.

Have I engaged in sexual acitivty outside of marriage?
Have I given my mind over to lustful thoughts or fantasies?
Have I read pornography or watched indecent movies or television shows?
Have I acted impurely by myself or with others?

7. You shall not steal.

Have I taken anything that did not belong to me?
Have I been dishonest in the payment of my taxes or in the submission of expense accounts in my business?
Have I wasted time and cheated my employer by not doing a full day's work for my wages?
Have I been extravagant in my manner of life, to the neglect of the poor of the world?
Have I been irresponsible and neglected the need of my family by wasting money on gambling or betting?

8. You shall not bear false witness agaisnt your neighbor.

Have I defamed the good name of another person by taking part in gossip or slander?
Have I injured the reputation of another person by speaking about their failures and sins with little desire to help them?
Have I condoned prejudice and hatred toward people of another nationality, race or religion?
Have I been truthful in my words as well as in my actions?

9. You shall not covet your neighbors wife.

Have I sought the affections of another's spouse?
Have I contemplated infedelity in my marriage?
Have I upheld the dignity of my spouse in all circumstances?
Have I reje cted my family in my heart, wishing to distance myself emotionally and personally from them.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

Do I habitually compare myself with others in terms of wealth, status and financial security?
Am I jealous of the personal qualities of others or envious of their possessions or success?
Do I keep my finances in order and exercise proper stewardship over what is mine?
Do I support my church sufficiently and give generously to the poor?

I pray that each of us finds ourselves in a state of repentance, and acceptance. Repentance from our bad deeds, thoughts and actions. And yet in acceptance of God's grace and mercy! We must learn to accept God's love for what it is, unconditional and unfathomable. It is so hard to accept that Christ died for us in our place! That He chose to remain hanging on that cross for each and everyone of us. I pray that every man, woman and child will learn to have faith in Jesus Christ, and learn to love as deeply and powerfully as our Heavenly Father, with pure agape.

In Christ,
Brian

What do you do when you can't put your thoughts into words? Overcome with grief?

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14


The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we know not how to pray. Romans 8:26 - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.


Isn't it a blessing to know that God hears our heart when we are so filled with grief that we cannot even speak? He knows what we need, and says it for us! When we are so overcome with the pain in our life, or the pain in someone else's we can simply pray, Lord have mercy on me, a sinner. I find this to be an immense amount of comfort.

In Christ,
Brian

Would an arm allow the hand to go into the flame, and not try to pull it back?

I have been spending the last few days in contemplation about my walk with God. I have been encouraged by a few online friends that I shouldn't talk about sin, simply show love and draw people to Christ with that. I am not sure I can or will do that. While I agree Jesus is about love, there is another commandment that Jesus talked about first.

Jesus told us that the first and greatest commandment is to love our God. Part of loving someone is knowing them, and trying to please them. Obedience is a big portion of showing our love for God. If I were to tell you I loved my wife, and yet couldn't tell you where she was, what she liked to eat, or even a phone number to get in touch with her.. could I truly mean I love her?

To love God means to search Him out. Yes we are going to fall, and sin. That doesn't give us a free excuse to do so. I also agree that each of us are at a different stage in our walk. Some of us have a long way to walk, and some are amazing people who simply flow with God's will. I want to be one who flow's with God's will always, but I am not there. I am no saint. Just a sinner saved by grace. I try not to judge others because I know where they are may not be where they were, and it is definitely not where they are going to be either. Yet I cannot sit by when someone says I am Christian, and then continues with no fruit. It is not love to sit by while your children burn themselves in a fire, the fire is real, and if my children are walking towards it I will try to stop them. I may not be able to hold them back, but as the quote from Spurgeon says, ""If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for."

I agree tact is very important, and there are times to realize that talking to someone will not get through them. It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict and it is God's job to judge. That does not mean that we should not continue to spread our light, nor does it mean that we can go on sinning freely. Christians must live in repentance. It is not a single act, but a lifestyle. Anytime we begin to sin, we must try our best to immediately turn from it and apologize sincerely to God, because it should grieve our soul to have harmed Him.

In Christ,
Brian

What is a todah?

One of the more interesting concepts that we learn from Judaism is the todah sacrifice. You see there were many different types of sacrifice but the todah is one that we will all recognize very quickly as Christians. The todah was a sacrifice offered in recognition of God delivering someone from some great tribulation. They had just gone through something very difficult, and when they came to the other side they wanted to show God that they know he was the reason they were delivered.

The todah meal was a meal of sacrifice and thanksgiving to the Father. A priest would sacrifice a lamb, and the family would then consume that lamb with wine. It's already starting to sound familiar. "One gives thanks for a particular deliverance from suffering or mortal danger."

You and I were in mortal danger. The wages of sin is death. That means that if you broke any commandment in any way, the punishment is death. All of us are sinners. We have all sinned in someway or another. We all deserve death. God redeemed us through Christ on the cross. Our todah is communion. Now each church has a different way of going about communion, and I don't want this to get into a conversation on how to go about it, or who is right, or who is wrong. This is about how that the concept of communion goes directly back to a todah.

Through communion we are offering a sacrifice to God, one that He gave us freely. Just like a lamb is only ours because God gives it to us, the sacrifice of Christ is only ours because God provided it. Just like Abraham and Isaac, a ram has been provided for us. The bread represents his body, and the wine his blood. Just like Melkizedk who offered bread and wine, so do we. We participate in the communion to show that sacrifice. Jesus is our lamb, just as the bible refers to him.

The Jewish scholars many years ago wrote a very important statement. "In the comming Messianic age, all sacrifices will cease except the todah sacrifice. This will never cease in all eternity" (Pesiqta, I, p 159). We know that Jesus was our messiah. The communion act is a representation of that todah sacrifice.

In Christ,
Brian

Beware the power of words

We have to be careful what we say, because the tongue is a terrible beast to tame. Do we often consider what we say and who we are talking to? Jame said, "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:6

I have a little story to share about my daughter, that illustrates just how sometimes we aren't aware of what we are saying or how we are hurting people. My daughter, who is 4, came up to me a while ago and wanted me to weave a rose into her hair. So I spent a few seconds twisting the hair together and the flower to make it stay on the side of her head. As I finished, she smiled in one of those cute innocent smiles and said:

"There, now I'm pretty."

I said, "Oh honey, you don't need a flower in your hair to be pretty."

She said, "Really?"

I said, "You are beautiful the way you are."

She said "But sometimes you call me nut head or goof-ball."

I said, "Does it hurt your feelings when I say that?"

She said, matter of factly "Yes."

I said, "Then I won't say it anymore, I think you are beautiful just the way you are."

The purpose of this story is to illustrate that we need to beware what we say, more especially be aware of who he are talking to. We can hurt someones feelings in a blink of an eye, and not even realize it.

It also illustrates another fundamental truth. When we realize we have erred, we apologize. By repenting we mean, I will do my best NOT to do it again. When I tell my daughter I will not call her nut head or goof-ball anymore, it is my intention not to do it. It should be the same with God. When we apologize to God for our sins, we should do our best to quit! We might slip up from time to time, but because we love Him, our heart needs to truly mean that we are sorry and that we are trying our best not to grieve his Spirit anymore.