I have come to realize, Faith is trust in God and Fear is the exact opposite of Faith
When obedience to God ceases to be an irritant and becomes your quest, in that moment God will endow you with power.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Desire dictates our priorities, our priorities shape our choices and our choices determine our actions. The desires we act on today determine how we will become tomorrow, our achieving and our becoming all hinges on Desire. Decide Early Stay In Reach Eternity
Friday, July 27, 2012
Have you ever seen the christian fish and wondered what it means?
The Christian fish symbol was used by Christians during the first few centuries A.D. as a secret symbol, because to openly declare your self a believer in Jesus Christ could mean persecution or death. A person could nonchalantly make a half circle with his foot and watch to see if the other person would recognize the symbol and complete the other half of the fish.
The Christian fish symbol was also used to mark places that were safe for Christians to be, such a home or business that was owned by a Christian. Using the Christian fish symbol could save a person a lot of trouble in those days, and even now it is used by believers living in countries where followers of Christ are persecuted.
So what constitutes a christian? A Christian is someone who first believes in Christ and then accepts him as their personal savior. Followed by baptism. Then comes work. To follow him you must know him for how can you serve a master for whom you do not know. To know someone is far different than just knowing a list of facts. So how do we come to know him? To know him is a personal journey that can neither be bought or sold it must be experienced through heartfelt personal prayer and study. If you are a true Christian you will find yourself doing the task that Christ would do if he were here. You become his hands eyes ears and heart as the holy ghost whispers the masters task in a moment of need. As I look at the world today I wish Christians could come together with a symbol as simple as a fish drawn in the sand.
I hear the words united we stand and divided we fall. I once heard a story of a group of Christians. They were all united until someone overheard a gospel conversation. In that moment they realized some of the Christians were part of a different denomination they deemed as a lesser faith. Through cunning plans, steps were taken by a few to deny privileges of all involved and eventually the removal of some individuals. Upon hearing this story related it brought me great sadness. I thought wow Does it really matter what someones opinion is? do we not worship the same God? Is Christ not the center of all Christians worship? If you are reading this I challenge you to embrace all truth no matter the source. But you may think I must be careful, I do not want to be led astray like those who rejected and crucified Christ. Matthew has the answer Matt:7 15-16 . As Christians let us be more tolerant of each other for contention is of the evil one. Matthew teaches matt : 6:24 no man can serve 2 masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold the one and despise the other. As a christian I pray that we can be more tolerant of one another. I pray that we will put into practice WWJD and CTR
What would Jesus do (if he were here) and Choose The Right ( when faced with life's trials ) I fear if we do not we will find ourselves with empty lamps like the 5 foolish virgins when the bridegroom visits. Let us be wise and follow the master for he even loved Judas in the moment of his betrayal. He loves each of us for who we are as a child of God and for what we can become, if we will only follow his call, when he said come follow me and do as I do. Come all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest. For my Yoke is easy and my burden light.
I once asked my youth class if they would die for Christ, without fail all responded yes yes all the way around the room. I then responded, it is easy to die for him but will you live for him. To die takes little or no effort. But to live for him takes dedication and effort.
I hope we can all be faithful
And love one another as the master loves us in this we will find tolerance and discover his love
The Greek letters that make of the word for fish are IXOYE, and they form an acronym that has also been associated with this symbol. Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter', which is translated as 'Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior'
The Christian fish symbol was also used to mark places that were safe for Christians to be, such a home or business that was owned by a Christian. Using the Christian fish symbol could save a person a lot of trouble in those days, and even now it is used by believers living in countries where followers of Christ are persecuted.
So what constitutes a christian? A Christian is someone who first believes in Christ and then accepts him as their personal savior. Followed by baptism. Then comes work. To follow him you must know him for how can you serve a master for whom you do not know. To know someone is far different than just knowing a list of facts. So how do we come to know him? To know him is a personal journey that can neither be bought or sold it must be experienced through heartfelt personal prayer and study. If you are a true Christian you will find yourself doing the task that Christ would do if he were here. You become his hands eyes ears and heart as the holy ghost whispers the masters task in a moment of need. As I look at the world today I wish Christians could come together with a symbol as simple as a fish drawn in the sand.
I hear the words united we stand and divided we fall. I once heard a story of a group of Christians. They were all united until someone overheard a gospel conversation. In that moment they realized some of the Christians were part of a different denomination they deemed as a lesser faith. Through cunning plans, steps were taken by a few to deny privileges of all involved and eventually the removal of some individuals. Upon hearing this story related it brought me great sadness. I thought wow Does it really matter what someones opinion is? do we not worship the same God? Is Christ not the center of all Christians worship? If you are reading this I challenge you to embrace all truth no matter the source. But you may think I must be careful, I do not want to be led astray like those who rejected and crucified Christ. Matthew has the answer Matt:7 15-16 . As Christians let us be more tolerant of each other for contention is of the evil one. Matthew teaches matt : 6:24 no man can serve 2 masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold the one and despise the other. As a christian I pray that we can be more tolerant of one another. I pray that we will put into practice WWJD and CTR
What would Jesus do (if he were here) and Choose The Right ( when faced with life's trials ) I fear if we do not we will find ourselves with empty lamps like the 5 foolish virgins when the bridegroom visits. Let us be wise and follow the master for he even loved Judas in the moment of his betrayal. He loves each of us for who we are as a child of God and for what we can become, if we will only follow his call, when he said come follow me and do as I do. Come all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest. For my Yoke is easy and my burden light.
I once asked my youth class if they would die for Christ, without fail all responded yes yes all the way around the room. I then responded, it is easy to die for him but will you live for him. To die takes little or no effort. But to live for him takes dedication and effort.
I hope we can all be faithful
And love one another as the master loves us in this we will find tolerance and discover his love
The Greek letters that make of the word for fish are IXOYE, and they form an acronym that has also been associated with this symbol. Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter', which is translated as 'Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior'
Life is too short
Someone once said "There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. LIFE IS TOO SHORT to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."
Money
Money is a power; but holds narrow limits. It can feed your pride and will purchase plenty, but lacks the power to give peace. It brings lavish luxuries, but doesn’t have to power help you to enjoy them. It has the power to surround your sick bed with physicians, but lacks the power to restore your health. It can boost your ego by those whom flatter, but will be left behind at your last breath. It can fill your life with people. but will never procure you one true friend. On the other hand the lack of money and success humbles and reveals your true friends. The most important is the one you forgot in your days of success. GOD
Dont Judge Me
The other day I saw a bumper sticker that said: “ Don’t Judge me because I don’t sin the same way you do!” I have learned, Mans judgment is like judging a life from a snapshot picture of a moment in time.
For this reason God gave us Matthew 7:1 I have realized His judgments are based on a comprehensive analysis of a life. I now see Our judgments are based on a few 2D images of the past which we refuse to let go.
For this reason God gave us Matthew 7:1 I have realized His judgments are based on a comprehensive analysis of a life. I now see Our judgments are based on a few 2D images of the past which we refuse to let go.
Appreciate it
In my life I have given away many things earned by blood sweat and tears, only to find them discarded without a thought by the receiver. I too have been guilty of the same. This has taught me, if you did not desire it enough to earn it, you do not posses the power to appreciate it.
How you spend your time
How you spend your time reveals your priorities. Who you spend it with, reveals who matters most. I have learned, The biggest compliment you can ever give someone is your time. I think when we stand before God he may focus more on how and with whom we spent our spare time because this reveals our true treasures of what mattered most.
The trial reveals the man
The trial reveals the man. It is easy to be obedient to God when all the world is in it's proper place. It is quite another matter to obey when prosperity escapes and poverty prevails. If you think you have been delt a bad hand read. (Matthew 8:20) then count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what God has done. ;)
Trials
I once knew a boy with dreams no one could steal. As he grew to a man it would seem opposition met him at every road. To all the world this gifted man made many unforgivable mistakes
What they did not see were the tears and torment he endured for many a year. It seemed for each mistake the world did scoff but God met them with glee for what men saw as weakness and did turn their backs in disgust God saw as an opportunity to develop that mans trust. What looked like failure for all the world to see was but 1 more humbling trial to mold him into what God would have him be. He learned when we contemplate another we should read 1john 2:9-11 then realize We all learn obedience the same way Christ did. Hebrews 5:8
And we learn how we obtain Gods promise from words given to Abraham in Hebrews 6:15
In seeing this we learn we should apply it in our life
2 Peter 3: 17- 18
If we evaluate our life and learn from our trials and repent God will not judge us but if we fail to learn we will be judged 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
What they did not see were the tears and torment he endured for many a year. It seemed for each mistake the world did scoff but God met them with glee for what men saw as weakness and did turn their backs in disgust God saw as an opportunity to develop that mans trust. What looked like failure for all the world to see was but 1 more humbling trial to mold him into what God would have him be. He learned when we contemplate another we should read 1john 2:9-11 then realize We all learn obedience the same way Christ did. Hebrews 5:8
And we learn how we obtain Gods promise from words given to Abraham in Hebrews 6:15
In seeing this we learn we should apply it in our life
2 Peter 3: 17- 18
If we evaluate our life and learn from our trials and repent God will not judge us but if we fail to learn we will be judged 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
I have learned something interesting
I will call it, The True Miracle of an instant answer to a little prayer.
Have you ever prayed and received it would seem almost an instant answer to a prayer?
But other times you feel God has not answered you.
In 2Peter 3: 8 we find some insight.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
If you analyze this scripture you will find some interesting facts
If 1000 years on earth is a day in heaven that means
Each hour in heaven is 41.6 years on earth
And every minute in heaven is 1.4 years on earth which means
Each second in heaven is 8.5 days on earth.
In realizing this we discover God loved us so much he only wanted us to endure less than an hour of a trial on earth to prove our love for him through obedience to his commandments.
The next scripture is 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
We are taught here not to judge our perceived slow response to a prayer because God has our best interest at heart and though we may wait 1.4 years for an answer to a prayer it was only but a minute to our Father.
I will call it, The True Miracle of an instant answer to a little prayer.
Have you ever prayed and received it would seem almost an instant answer to a prayer?
But other times you feel God has not answered you.
In 2Peter 3: 8 we find some insight.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
If you analyze this scripture you will find some interesting facts
If 1000 years on earth is a day in heaven that means
Each hour in heaven is 41.6 years on earth
And every minute in heaven is 1.4 years on earth which means
Each second in heaven is 8.5 days on earth.
In realizing this we discover God loved us so much he only wanted us to endure less than an hour of a trial on earth to prove our love for him through obedience to his commandments.
The next scripture is 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
We are taught here not to judge our perceived slow response to a prayer because God has our best interest at heart and though we may wait 1.4 years for an answer to a prayer it was only but a minute to our Father.
Forgiveness
FORGIVENESS Faith Only Reveals Gods Infinite Vision Every Need Eternal Savior Satisfied
When we seek to forgive we seek to become like Christ, When we seek to become like Christ wee seek to forgive. The ability to forgive is a Gift or Talent from God. If we could obtain and develop this gift we could effectively disarm 90% of Satins power. The Gift of forgiveness is obtained through faith fasting and mindful diligence in bridling our thoughts garnished with earnest prayer. Gifts & talents are given but also can be requested from God, Once given the receiver must developed any gift or talent to reap the full benefit. A spiritual gift given without sacrifice and understanding will gather dust on the shelf of life and will be returned to the master having profited nothing (see Matthew 25:14-30) Yet a spiritual gift sought after with much sacrifice and supplication is found accomplishing the mission of the master, purifying the soul of the receiver while blessing those to whom are served. 1 Timothy 4:14 teaches neglect not the gift within you. And Luke12:48 teaches, where much is given much is expected.
When we seek to forgive we seek to become like Christ, When we seek to become like Christ wee seek to forgive. The ability to forgive is a Gift or Talent from God. If we could obtain and develop this gift we could effectively disarm 90% of Satins power. The Gift of forgiveness is obtained through faith fasting and mindful diligence in bridling our thoughts garnished with earnest prayer. Gifts & talents are given but also can be requested from God, Once given the receiver must developed any gift or talent to reap the full benefit. A spiritual gift given without sacrifice and understanding will gather dust on the shelf of life and will be returned to the master having profited nothing (see Matthew 25:14-30) Yet a spiritual gift sought after with much sacrifice and supplication is found accomplishing the mission of the master, purifying the soul of the receiver while blessing those to whom are served. 1 Timothy 4:14 teaches neglect not the gift within you. And Luke12:48 teaches, where much is given much is expected.
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