I wrote this because I did not want you all to feel despaired after this last post, and I hope this shall be an encouragement to you!
We may see all those things happening in our country, as I listed in the previous post on "America Holocaust," and feel frightened or frustrated. Many men in the Bible have also cried out to God when their countries were turning away from God's will. They cried out to God, just as we have been when all those things have been happening. Habbakuk is one of these men, and he said,
"O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth." Habbakuk 1:2-4
Habbakuk wondered why God did not come quickly to avenge the righteous and why he waited so long to punish evil. The world was covered in inquitity and wickedness. Evil was abounding. Habbakuk asked God why he was allowing the wicked to prosper and for the world to continue this way? Does that sound like us?
Then God replied,
"Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you." Habbakuk 1:5
God already has a plan. God's judgment and wrath does not sleep very long. The Lord has seen everything happening in our country right now and everything is still under his control. The leaders in this world may THINK they are in control, but God is above them on the everlasting throne.
As his people, we shall learn to trust God and to live by faith no matter what's happening in our nation. Terrible plans are being formed by the enemy and satan is working in the powerful places on Earth, but the Earth fits in the hollow of God's hand. He is above it all and he reigns. His plans can crush the enemy's plans.
"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." Habbukuk 2:2
God has an appointed time for his plans to be fulfilled. Everything is happening exactly the way God knew it would as it is written. He shall fulfill his plans, and we shall have victory. There SHALL be an end to the wickedness in the world. As we approach these times, we shall look up for our redemption draweth nigh. Let us rejoice and wait on the Lord.
Here are the special names of God in the Hebrew tongue! I learned the list of names in the Biblical Doctrine class at my church and it stuck with me since. I found it useful when I praise God and worship him! These names also show the many awesome qualities of God!
Jehovah Rophe- Our Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26)
Jehovah Tsidkenu- The Lord our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
Jehovah Shalom- The Lord our peace (Judges 6:24)
Jehovah Nissi- The Lord our banner (Exodus 17:15)
Jehovah Shammah- The Lord is present (Ezekiel 48:35)
Jehovah Sabaoth- The Lord of armies (Isaiah 44:6)
Jehovah Jireh- The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14)
Jehovah Rohi- The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
Jehovah Mekeddeshem- The Lord who sanctifies (Leviticus 20:7-8)
I do my best thinking at night time as I lay in bed before I sleep. I tell myself to remember in the morning, but then I never do. Sometimes I'll just pull myself out of bed and write it down!
Tonight, I was thinking about how we could explain joy. Happiness is circumstantial and it depends on what we are facing, whether it be bad or good. Joy is a fruit of the spirit and it is a gift from God as we grow in our walk with him. Joy is always abiding, no matter what the circumstances are, no matter what we are facing.
As Christians, we live above the circumstances. We're not really IN it, like a lost person without God would be. Life is full of waves, tidal waves, tsunamis, storms, unpredictability, and people get tossed about and go up and down along with life's motions. As successful Christians, we sail right through it. The perfect illustration is when Jesus walked on water. There was a storm, but Jesus wasn't in it, he wasn't tossed with it, or drowning. Jesus just sailed over it.
Jesus showed Peter, a mortal, imperfect man how to walk on water. It was possible by faith and by keeping our eyes on Jesus. We have that opportunity to walk on water over the stormy seas of our lives just like Peter did.
What a gift!
Hi everyone!
I need your help! I decided yesterday that I am tired of eating junk food. I eat a huge bag of candy corn every week and I've been buying liters of cola often amongst other junk. I have been neglecting my health and even went to the hospital recently because of dehydration. That was over a month ago and I have not changed any habits. I know need to.
I am finally fed-up because it doesn't feel healthy at all. I thought, well, I want to start serving more healthy meals and start working out to feel better. I also want my (two very picky) boys to learn to eat healthier too. I'd love if any of you guys could share some recipes that we could enjoy as a family (with kids in mind too). Any ideas would be awesome!
I appreciate it, thanks :) :)
Candy Corn, I love you but you're bad for me! Shoo!!
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One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in
the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things
were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when
he had a job.
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him.
He remembered family who had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he
had, that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger,
resentment, and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing
all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek
the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he
prayed:
'Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told
me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told
me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It
is not fair Lord, I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me
and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one
thing I can not do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep
Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray you teach me to do the one
thing I can not do: Teach me to forgive.'
As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt
something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner
of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see
what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece
of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the
wood with a large spike through them.
He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus
hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a
torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the
suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's
tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.
'Have you ever told a lie?' He asked?
The man answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?'
The man answered - 'Yes, Lord.' And the man sobbed more and more.
'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?' Jesus asked?
And the man answered, 'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?'
The man, crying now, answered - 'Yes, Lord...'
As Jesus asked many more times, 'Have you ever'? The man's crying became
uncontrollable, for he could only answer - 'Yes, Lord'.
Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt
something fall on his other shoulder He looked and saw that it was the
blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and
there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.
Jesus said, 'I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you.'
It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when
you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.
Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.
If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.
I admit that one of my biggest daily struggles is the feeling of rejection. Every day I wake up with the feeling, and it's very hard for me. Today, I was struggling with that feeling and God brought something to my mind. The Lord reminded me that even HE, the sweet Saviour, was rejected on the cross. Jesus also goes through rejection every day as thousands of people reject his gift of love. When I realized that, my feelings of rejection became so small in comparison.
I'm so grateful that I have a God who understands. I know I have a God who will never reject me but love me unconditionally. I know that even if I was the only person on this Earth, Jesus would still have come to die for me. I want to learn to be like Jesus, that even though I may be rejected from someone, I still want to learn to love unconditionally regardless.
Thousands of people, or even millions, struggle with the same problem I do. The perfect solution is to come to the God who has his arms open wide and says:
"For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b
Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature
And all created things
Above all wisdom
And all the ways of man
You were here
Before the world began
Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what you're worth
Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all
I had a Bible study this afternoon and found great teachings about the world in 1st John. I have lived in the world before. I have thought like the world, I have talked like the world, I have been accepted by the world and thrived in the world.
Right now, I live in God. The old things are gone, and all things are new. Everything that is old and of the world will be destroyed, and the those who follow God will last. If a person is of the world, then they shall perish with the world.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." 1 John 2:15-17
I no longer miss the world or care for anything in the world. After we live in God, and plunge ourselves in him, the world seems dull in comparison. It becomes empty, meaningless and so dark. Our feelings and perspectives of the world change when we live in God. We receive so much love and grace with the Lord, and find real purpose living in his will. Then, we are not of the world anymore, but sons and daughters of God.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knowest us not, because it knew him not." 1 John 3:1
My question for you is, are you separated from the world? Is it obvious to everyone around you that you belong to the Lord? When we are of God, the world will reject us, mock us and cast us out like it did to Jesus. That comes with the territory as Christians, but we rejoice because we are His.
"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you." 1 John 3:13
The world has it's own style for their own kind. Worldly people talk after worldly things, in a worldly manner, and they will not receive the Word that we speak of because they are in the world. We will seem like we are speaking utter nonsense to them. They cannot perceive the truth unless God reveals it to them. They are lost.
But sometimes, even with random chance of meeting, we will find a brother or sister in Christ and they will hear us. We will recognize each other as brethren in Christ. I love it when that happens! We share the spirit of truth and are able to recognize who has the spirit of truth, and who has the spirit of error.
"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." 1 John 4:5-6
And great joy is knowing this, that Jesus Christ has overcome the world. He hath the victory! Those who abide in him shall also overcome the world!
"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:5
I wrote this because in this life we live, we all must choose whether we are of the world, or of God. We must be in one or the other. We cannot have both feet on both sides, the Father will not dwell in us if we do that. Let us turn our backs to the world, and follow the precious footprints of Jesus Christ. Let us all become his own.
Today was one of those days.
I woke up the kids from their nap and hurriedly wrapped a gift for a young boy's birthday party that was starting in a half hour. I drove the kids to the edge of town only to realize I was a day early for the party.
Then I felt bad for the kids and decided to drive them to a park that we saw from the road. We walked quite a distance to arrive to this new park, but realized it was a dog park, not a children park. We walked all the way back to the van.
I drove away and noticed my gas was empty. I pulled over at a gas station with my key in my hand, and as I came back to the car, I realized the key wasn't in my hand anymore. I looked everywhere, and even dug through the very 'sanitary' garbage can. The kids and I were stranded at the gas station for a good while until my mom got a ride and brought me a spare key.
And I came home, and nearly fell over the front door when my heels got stuck between the wedge at the door.
Ever have one of those days? :/
More people are spending time on the internet than ever before. There is easy access to every kind of information available online, chat rooms, social networks, instant messengers and emails. We also get to know many new people from all over the world. It is fun and exciting, but it can also be dangerous. Talking to strangers online is just as dangerous as talking to a stranger on the street.
Here is some information to help everyone learn about internet stalking and how to protect themselves from that.
There are three general types of internet stalkers:
1. Obsessional Stalkers: You may have known them, had a friendship with them, and ended it but they refuse to accept that the relationship is over even when they have been told repeatedly it is. They may still contact you in emails and instant messengers, or persistently try to add you on Facebook, MySpace, or other social networks. Do not think they are harmlessly in love because many of them may have been emotionally abusive, controlling and even carry a criminal record for stalking.
2. The Delusional Stalkers: They have never had a relationship with the person outside of their own mind. They could have mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or erectomania. What they have in common is a false belief that keeps them tied to their victims, even things like walking on the same side of the street, buying the same brand of orange juice, etc. There may be delusional stalkers who are determined to prove their love to the victim somehow believing they will return the same feelings. This can be dangerous, like the stalker of Jodie Foster who shot President Reagan for her.
Delusional stalkers are often loners, unmarried, socially immature, and don't really have much people skills to keep friendships and relationships. They often stalk victims who are unattainable such as celebrities, married people, and tend to draw to those in helping professions such as doctors, thearapists, teachers etc. They can be very difficult to get rid of and can be around for years.
3. Venegeful Stalkers: They get angry at their victims over slight (either real or imagined) problem. They are dangerous because they can stalk the victim but believe themselves to be the "victims." This commonly includes disgruntled employees, ex-spouses, etc. They may show a flame war, want to argue with you, disagree with you, and may even create a website about you. They can go as far as tracing you, calling you at home, at work, sending you hate mail or even going as far as finding you offline.
How to Protect Yourself.
-If you are a minor, please contact an adult immediately. This kind of thing cannot be kept a secret. Let your parents know right away! And parents, guard your children. Always know who they are talking to!
-Stop all contact with this person. Do not respond to them anymore. Do not continue the conversations, do not argue with them, just cut off all ties with them.
-Block their emails, their IMs, and any other access they may have to you. Disappear online by changing your identity and if necessary your Internet Provider. Your safety is more important than the inconvenience of having to change your online identity.
-If there are threats being made, make a report to your local police station. Bring any logs or emails with you as evidence. Keep all correspondence in order for them to be able to be traced.
-Be on guard when you are online. Do not share your information. Do not give out your home address or phone number. Do not give any information that could reveal where you are.
-If you feel uncomfortable around someone online, listen to your feelings!
Go to this website for more information:
http://www.wiredsafety.org/cyberstalking_harassment/stalker.html
