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The Way is Narrow And few Who find it

♥The bible says the way to heaven is narrow and rocky and there are few who will find it.  I contemplate this today.  The world around me is full of sin, negativity, problems, hurts, pains, and evil.  But I ask God, the father, to help me not to focus on these things but instead to focus on those things which are above.  As Christ-followers,we are to meditate upon the fact that we are actually seated in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus already. WOW. That is a great and happy thought.

The Lord Jesus is Perfect. I am not. I want to serve Him and fulfill His purpose for my life on a daily basis and overall. I am currently focusing on praying for humility. The bible says that Humility preceded honor and riches. The proud shall be humbled by God. I ask God to help me to be humble of heart and to consider others better than myself.

I know that I cannot do anything without Christ who strengthens me. I hope to show the love of Jesus to others and pray that the Holy Spirit within me will shine through even in situations or time when I cannot verbally expound upon the Gospel.

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta. There I met many people and I enjoyed talking to them. I especially enjoyed opportuniy to give them a Gospel tract or share Jesus with them. I am thankful for that.

I pray I can do more in my own home (area).

May I never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Family

While reading the bible in a study centered on family, I am realizing,the breakdown of the family is the single most poignant factor in the breakdown of society. One can trace almost all society’s problems back to the breakdown of the family- which is God’s plan for man and woman. God ordained family. It is his wish that a man and woman remain pure until marriage and then produce children within that context. The reasons for this are many, but for one, the children have the best chance of succeeding in the context of an intact family-that is with both mother and father in the home. We can see this example in the life of Jesus, himself. God did not need to necessarily send his son Jesus in the form of human to be born of a woman and live in a family, but He (God) did just that. Why? I think one important reason was to show us a model for his best, that is an intact family. Jesus was God in the flesh, thus he was perfect in every way. He did not need to subject himself to the rule of human parents like Mary and Joseph, after all he was God. However, Jesus did humble himself to the nurture and admonition of his earthly parents (as well as his Heavenly Father). This was done as a model for us. But we as a race-the human race- have pretty much abandoned God’s model and plan for the family. And with many sorrowful consequences.

What are those consequences? I will name a few: orphaned children,childabuse,divorce,teenpregnancy, homosexuality,homelessness,poverty, spousal abuse,and abortion. And the list goes on…With the divorce rate at around 50% millions of children are being raised in single parent families. Often times the single mother is forced to raise her kids alone. About 40% of children in the US go to bed each night in a home where no father is present.  The term father has gone from being a relational term to the context of just a biological term. This trend of family disintegration is heart-breaking to God and its ultimate end is destruction for the human family. So what is the solution?

I think ultimately,only God can set things right. A quote by pastor Mike McIntosh of Grace Church in Federal Way,Washington illustrates some defining observations on the importance of the nature and function of families: “So often we hear that the world is too intense, too violent,too ugly,and that is what is destroying our homes.  It is not the world that is destroying our homes.  It is the weakness of our homes that is destroying the world. The family of God has suffered as much a the secular has. The divorce rate within the church is the same as without. And judgment must begin with the house of God, as the bible states in 1Peter 4:17. The enemy of our souls, satan,has launched an all out attack on family since the beginning. His strategies to divide and conquer will succeed unless we, who call ourselves Christians, begin the reconciliation. Reconciliation in its simplest definition is the restoring of cordial relations. That is what we desperately need. We as people first need to seek to restore our individual relationship(s) with God, through Jesus Christ the Savior. From this starting point there is hope for outflow to other realtionships. Fathers and children, husbands and wives, whole families, communities, ethnic groups. But if we don’t understand God’s purpose and plan for family we cannot accomplish anything.

Maybe you think this sounds simplistic or idealistic or religious. But I know from personal experience the hole that is left from a broken family. I know what it is like to be raised by a struggling single mom. I know how it is to have a “weekend dad”. I don’t feel sorry for myself about it, but I want better for my children. And I happen to have faith in an all powerful all mighty God who can change things as we submit ourselves to Him. He can restore all that has been stolen from us. And He (Jesus) has come to give us a more abundant life (John 10:10) and a hope and a future.

This hope can be yours if you will come to know Him, that is Jesus, as your Savior and Lord.

Wal-Mart Miracle

I was at Wal-Mart today with my mom.  I was helping her pick up some eggs from the shelf.  I was turned away from my cart for maybe ten seconds. I turned back and my cart was gone!  I was in shock. And yes, I had left my purse in the cart. I know…stupid… Anyway, I said to my mom “My cart is gone!” She immediately yelled “Help”, with a loud voice. People were looking at us. I shouted out “Someone took my cart with my purse in it.”  I looked frantically all around to see if someone had my cart and or my purse. The store was quite crowded due to Christmas shoppers, I’m sure.  So I went dashing toward the front door, hoping to stop the person if they were making their getaway with my purse. Once I got outside I stood there a few minutes looking, looking,looking. I saw no one with my stuff.

I looked over past the Salvation Army bell-ringer and saw two police officers doing some type of Christmas collection. I went up to the officer and told him what had happened. He was quite nice and asked my if I had called the local police, I said “no.” So he called them for me.  While we were waiting and watching my mom had come up on her riding cart, upset of course. She had been holding guard by the front door asking to look in everyone’s bags and carts.  So the officer told us that he was a chaplain on the county police force. So my immediate response to him was “Can we pray?’ So we all three grabbed hands right there in the doorway of WalMart and the officer began to pray for God to resolve this situation and bring to justice the perpetrators and he ended the prayer “In Jesus Name.” We said “Amen.” 

Next the city police arrived and he asked me a couple of questions. He told my mom and I to wait while we went to talk to store security. While we waited we discussed the important contents of my purse, cell phone, debit card,cash,id’s,etc.  Nothing irreplaceable, but nontheless troubling to think it was just gone. Since my cell phone was in the purse, I used the Walmart phone to call my bank and cancel my debit card.  

The police officer sent a lady from store security back to us. She said “Please come with me, I think we may have found your cart and purse.” My mom and I accompanied the lady to the secret “security closet”.  Inside we saw the bank of monitors showing video footage from all the various cameras around the store. And inside the security closet sat my cart with the purse inside!

I was so happy! Everything was there. Nothing was missing. It was indeed a miracle! 

The security guy showed me the tape of what happened. A lady came up and just walked off with my cart. Apparently it was a mistake.  She thought it was her cart. So she walked around a bit, with grandkid in tow, appently. Then realizing finally the cart was not hers. She abandoned it in the children’s clothing section. A Walmart associate found the cart and returned it to security.

I had thought for sure I had become a victim of some organized ring of holiday thieves. But thank God,it was an honest mistake. No harm, no foul. 

This whole situation was an illustration of Romans 8:28 “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and to those who are called according to his purpose.” And also Matthew 18 ” Where two or more are gathered together in my name I am in their midst.” 

I think another fellow shopper summed it up best. When she saw me again inside she asked if I got my purse back. I said “Yes, Thank God.” She said “Well when I heard, I said a little prayer and look at God, He is Good all the time!” 

Amen sister. Thanks for the prayer. God is a God of Goodness, Mercy, and answered Prayer. There is nothing too big or too small to go to Him with.

He cares for us!

Young Woman Plans to Auction her Virginity

I am sure some of you may have heard this: A young woman named “Natalie Dylan” (pseudonym) is trying to auction her virginity to the highest bidder.  Why?  She says she is doing it to raise money for her schooling.  This, to me is very sad, to say the least.  If this misguided young woman goes through with this she will essentially become a prostitute right out of the gate, so to speak, and will be indeed selling her “talent” for an unworthy purpose.

A virgin selling out her God-given purity!  Only in America in 2008! Look at what we have become.  It seems money/ fame/sex  are the trifecta. These three are the all driving end and goal for any and everything!  People, I realize we are in “desperate” times but this woman already has her undergrad degree. Does she need to humiliate herself in such a manner because she can’t get a job unless she gets a graduate degree? I think not.  And I wonder, after all of the controversy  surrounding her currently and the imminent shame to follow; who will be hiring her? If she wants to use her looks and her body only, she may as well go on and work for Playboy or something. From the bits I have read about her, she seems to be an intelligent person, and so I really cannot fathom why she cannot deduce a more moral/ decent way to obtain the funds she needs to go on to grad school.

I really hate this because it sends such a horrible message to the youth of our country. It is saying I will give you something if you pay me for it. This flies in the face of God. God has intended that indeed both men and women remain virgins until marriage and by thus doing so, the marriage bed is undefiled. If you have slept with (fornicated with) others before marriage, your marriage stands a much greater chance of failing i.e. ending in divorce. There are many studies out there that prove this. If you don’t believe me look it up. An individual’s virginity is something that he or she is meant to give to the ONE person whom they (or more importantly God) selects for them to be with as life long spouses, within the context of marriage.

What if Ms. Dylan’s first union results in a pregnancy? Chances are much higher for conception with a virgin reproductive system.  Is she going to use a condom or I wonder if she is on birth control?  She can perhaps stay the consequences of pregnancy by using one of those methods, but she will never be able to avoid the consequences to her spirit, her conscience, and ultimately her future.

Even if Ms. Dylan gets her graduate degree and perhaps eventually her doctorate; the question that remains in my mind is: Can she live with herself? I certainly hope and pray this young woman changes her mind and does not go through with this ridiculous act. 

I pray that she will be touched by real love, that is the Love of Christ. He is the one who is our provider, our friend, our everything. I pray the scales will be removed from her eyes before she goes through with this humiliation to her body,soul,and spirit, which should be viewed as the temple of God and is not to be defiled.

And I certainly pray there will be no copy cats who think this is a viable way to get money, education,a new car?  Remember, the bible says to us that “… the love of money is the root of all evil 1Timothy 6:10.”  We are living in an economy that proves this, are we not?

A High and Difficult Calling…

The following is based on the bible verses from Matthew Chapter 5 verses 41-48  This is part of a bible study I am doing. 

These are the words of Jesus:

v.41  And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two miles.

v.42  Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you, turn not away.

v.43  You have heard that it has been said, You shall love you neighbor, and hate your enemy.

v.44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you;

v.45  That you may be the children of you Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

v.46  For if you love them which love you, what reward have you?  Do not even the publicans (tax collectors)  the same?

v.47  And if you salute your brothers/ friends only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans do so?

v.48  Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

The above verses are an illustration of what Christian Love is supposed to be.  Are we there yet? No, obviously not.  This kind of “perfect love” is very difficult for us sinful people to show.  We are called here to show “Agape” type of love, which is a Godly type of love. This type of love is so vastly different from any type of human or fleshly love, that many cannot even comprehend it.  Really, the only way, to my mind, that one can comprehend this type of love is to know the ONE who loves this way, that is Christ.  Without His example, people are naturally clueless about this ”Agape” love.

We all know that it is easy to love those people who are kind, generous, giving… But we also know that it quite hard and even impossible at times to try loving people who are mean, angry, hateful.  But Jesus says that if we love those that love us, then what credit is it to us? That is easy, He says.  

Jesus even instructs his followers to bless those who curse us.  Wow!  This is indeed a high calling. When we get cursed out, or done wrong in some way- our natural tendency is to curse the other person back. We have a human nature that wants to give tit for tat/ get even. The only way a human can do what God is asking here is via His Holy Spirit which indwells the believer and by His Grace which HE freely gives. And even so, one must be submitted to Christ and seek wisdom in cases such as this.   We do not see things as God sees them so going against our “human” i.e. sinful nature is very hard even in the best circumstances. And if you are a Christian you will be tried on this point.

In verse 45 it says that when we do this (i.e. behave kindly in the face of mistreatment) then it shows whose children we are. It shows others that we are indeed children of our Father in Heaven. And perhaps through our loving actions and reactions to “difficult” people, we will be able to show God’s love to them and hopefully win them to Christ.

To sum up, we are actually called to perfection. Whoa!  We are to be “little christs”.  That is the what the word Christian means. And once, again one cannot do this unless and until one knows the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. That means being in-dwelt by His Holy Spirit and being fully surrendered in mind, body, and soul to Him and His Grace and Wisdom and Love.

I hope that if you are not already a Christian, that you will perhaps have an encounter with another Christian who will be able to show you this type of love, so that you can believe it is REAL and that God/ Jesus is REAL. 

I feel that Christians fall short, and that is sad- because we may be losing opportunities to win souls. And that is what we are told to do. It is the Great Commission for believers. I pray we will step up to this high calling by God’s wonderful grace.

May the Love of Christ be yours today.

Water Everywhere but not a Drop to Drink?

I guess you have been hearing all about the BPA’s (bisphenols) in plastic bottles, including baby bottles. I am sure that many of you have already gone out and bought your eco-friendly / health-friendly stainless steel water bottles.  I just ordered mine today,actually.

We already know that everything around us is poisoned. So what are we to choose? The tap water? They say it has tons of chlorine and fluoride not to mention prescription drug residues and who knows what else… Then you think: “I will drink bottled water” … Then you find that the bisphenols have been shown in a JAMA report to cause an increase in diabetes and heart-disease as well as disruption of hormones. We have known for some time the link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s Disease. What to do?  Dehydrate?

And, of course many of our foods have become “franken-foods” with all of the bio-engineering and such. Sure, we try to get the organic stuff, but let’s be honest we do not always buy strictly organic, especially in this economic climate, if you are a “regular” person.

It boils down to this.  We are under the curse of sin. And nothing is clean here in our earthly existence. So, as I see it our only legit option is; we must pray and seek the only pure thing or person, actually, in the universe- who has the only remedy to this sin-sick world. That is, we must go to Jesus.  He has ultimate power and I do take comfort from the bible verse that states “…and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them…” Mark 16:18

Again the bible tells us that ultimately it is not what we put into our mouths that makes us unclean, but it is that which proceeds out of our mouths, because our words show what is contained in our hearts.

I pray for clean water and I pray for clean hearts for us all. In case you didn’t notice we are living in perilous times. It is time to LOOK UP FOR OUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR.   Luke 21:28

Please, don’t miss it! Please repent of you sins.  Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior today. If you do not you will have to go without water for all eternity.

911 Happens Every day in our Country

The equivalent of the terror attack of 9/11/2001 occurs every single day in the U.S.  What am I talking about? According to Wikianswers  2,998 people were killed that day in the attack on the world trade center.  This number may be somewhat lower, if you include those dying due to complications of 911 (i.e. complications) the number is higher, maybe upwards of 4,000.

Imagine this a daily “911″.  There are more killed daily through abortion than were killed at the twin towers.  On a daily basis,currently, there are between 3,000-3,800 abortions performed daily in the U.S.  In our state of North Carolina there are between 96-100 abortions performed daily.

Back on that September day in 2001, we all saw the horror and felt the outrage of the act of violence that took place in NYC. But what has happened to our outrage for the murder of the unborn happening daily? 

Let me hit you with this fact. Abortion is the leading cause of death in North Carolina, according to the State Center for Health Statistics, NC.  Number two is Heart Disease related deaths at 48 deaths per day and number three is Cancer related deaths at 46/deaths per day.  Do you know that abortion is the number one (#1) surgical procedure performed in the U.S.?

Think of those poor unsuspecting souls that were hit out of nowhere on that day in September 2001.  They were going about their business, doing their daily tasks when a huge jet crashed into their workplace, killing many instantly and leading many others to a more lingering and painful death. It is so with the preborn or unborn.  Those little souls are resting and growing, going about their daily tasks of cell division, swimming in amniotic fluid, and getting ready to be born. Then along comes, out of nowhere, the hard metal forceps of the abortionist invading the baby’s place of safety.  Most are killed rather quickly, though for others it takes longer and there is more severe pain.

Both abortion and the events of 911 are similiar in other ways. Those buildings in NYC have not been rebuilt, there is still a big hole where the destruction occured, the infrastructure was destroyed to the foundations. Those 16 acres are still a wasteland and a place of desolation.  And so it is with Abortion. Those unborn babies are dead, murdered in a cold and terrorizing way. The women (mothers) of those preborn children are often a barren wasteland. The mother’s infrastructure is damaged emotionally, physically, spiritually. Many times there is a hole left in the heart which will never be repaired, at least in this lifetime.

Today is a day of infamy for our country, as we remember the tragic events of 911.  But the reality is that every day is a day of infamy for the U.S. As long as there is abortion on demand, legalized in every state in this union, the terror continues. 

Wake up people, please. God sees all that is happening. He hates it. I hate it. You too should hate it. The bible tells us to hate what is evil and love what is good-Romans 12:9.

Let us show our love for these helpless preborn babies by letting our Love be without dissimulation.

God bless the families and friends of 911 victims and God bless the unborn and their families and friends.

Dirty House or Dirty Heart?

 

I wonder what Mr. or Mrs. Clean would think?  Levels of cleanliness vary widely with culture, background, geographical location, ethics, religion, etc. Maybe you’ve heard that Brazilians are famous for their personal cleanliness. It is said this is mostly due to the fact that their climate is tropical. And perhaps you’ve heard about the French, being famous historically,for taking a bath only once a week. Well, on and on it goes around the world…

Some people seem to feel clean if their surroundings are clean and fresh smelling. Some people can feel fine with a more “rustic” decor. Some people can actually live in in squalor and filth and feel okay. And some people can actually be homeless altogether.

I wonder what it is that is the determining factor what  one requires for one’s surroundings?  I mean a person could live in a pristine palace and still hate themselves and their life. And conversely a person could live under a bridge with the rats and feel at peace inside.

Some folks feel that if they “appear” clean then they “are” clean. But we all know there are many differing definitions of “clean”. What if a person looks clean, but inside their body they are carrying some horrible disease or infection? Or what if someone looks filthy outwardly, but inside they are clean and healthy and have a pure heart.

You know Jesus was said to be a man that was outwardly unremarkable. He was not handsome or “hot” he did not look like Brad Pitt. Jesus was born in a cow’s trough. He was a carpenter. He likely was a rough and tough type of guy. We know he walked a lot, so he probably had some muscularity.  And we know that Jesus was perfect in heart. His heart was perfect toward God the Father in every way.

We are not so. We as humans, are dirty both inwardly and outwardly. Inwardly we are dirty due to SIN.

How can we get clean?….Well we can use soap and shampoo and even clorox and lysol for the outside and for our surroundings. But how can we be clean inside????  Well, only the Blood of Jesus can cleanse us from our unrighteousness and sin.

So, I wonder which is better?  To live in a dirty house and have a clean heart or live in a clean house and have a dirty heart? Or perhaps better yet…to live in a clean house and have a clean heart! All I know is that perfume cannot cover up my stink nor good works cover up my sins!

I am looking forward to the one clean place-it is called Heaven. And it is so beautiful that there is a sea of glass there. There is a throne with rubies, emeralds,gold. And BEST of all there is JESUS my Redeemer-THE ULTIMATELY CLEAN ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: Remember you can’t rely on patron saints i.e. the Patron Saint of cleanliness:  “St. Dustin of Yourpants”.

“Be Alive as Long as You Live”

That is the name of a book I found in my grandmother’s basement.  It was written by an older lady named Betty Byrd Richard and an senior gentleman named Lawrence J. Frankel.  The book mostly focuses upon physical exercises and somewhat on diet. The subtitle for the book is “The older person’s complete guide to exercise for joyful living”. 

Here is an excerpt from the book which I think summarized it’s thesis:

“By chase,our long lived fathers earned their food”

Toil strung the nerves and purified the blood;

But we, their sons, a pampered race of men,

Are dwindled down to three score years and ten.

Better to use your muscles, for health unbought,

Than fee the doctors for a nauseous draught.

The wise, for cure, on exercise depend.

God never made his work for man to mend!                        

John Dryden (1631-1700)

I find that this is a good quote which illustrates the condition of fallen man and also the basis needed for healthy living. In my experience, healthy living is a multi-faceted thing. When I mention healthy living, I wonder what you may think of?  Perhaps going to the gym, riding your bike, going hiking, pilates, and even dancing.  Or you may think of becoming a vegetarian or a vegan or a raw foodist.

I wonder what God’s word, the Bible says about this topic?  It says if we are born of God then our bodies become the Temple of the Holy Spirit, a place for God to dwell.  We are no longer our own, we were bought with a price (the blood of Jesus), so therefore we must honor God in and with our bodies i.e. this ”flesh bag”.   Part of that honoring of God is to eat well, exercise, not abuse substances, watch or intake perverse or hurtful media, sin habitually, etc…

By the Grace of God we can do anything, including taking care of this earthly vessel/ body. Look at the fallen world of sickness and disease that pervades our existence constantly. Don’t you hate it as much as I do?  There is very little “Glorious” on this planet. Life is tough, it can become, trying,monotonous,dull,boring,torturous at times can it not?

Who over the age of 16 or born after 1910, lets say, still sees much wonder here? I do realized from being around some elderly folk that since they came from a somewhat “kinder and gentler” time that they can still see wonder and of course we know children see wonder in the world.   I must say that I lost it when I came to know the Truth. Not my truth, or my version of the truth, but The Truth: The person, Jesus the Christ.  That is when I understood that the Wonder and Perfection lies in Him and in Jesus there is no darkness at all.

The bible says Blessed is the man who overcomes temptation for when he has he shall receive the crown of life. You may have heard the old saying; ”You cannot fight tempation in the pantry.”  How can you fight the world’s constant bombardment of temptation unless you come out from among the temptation  until you are strenthened my God in the inner man?  Jesus often did this. He withdrew to pray and fast and get into prayer with his father, God. He showed us the pattern we Christians should follow.

We cannnot fight a spiritual battle with fleshly weapons. As stated in Ephesians we must put on daily the full armour of God: The helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of the preparation of the Gospel of Peace-taking the shield of faith; with all prayer and supplication making our requests known unto God.  In this way the peace of God can come to indwell each of us.

What does bodily exercise profit us?  The Bible says not much. However, spiritual exercise profits us much and eternally so.

The name of that book really made me think…”Be alive as long as you live”…But if we are Born Again by Grace through Faith in Christ then we are scheduled to live forever!  That is ETERNITY- A long,long,long,long, googleplex…..time/ i.e., out of time, another dimension-Eternity. 

I hope that we as Christians will do what Christ came to enable us to do: that is “he came that we may have life and have it more abundantly” John 10:10.  Let us do all we can to keep these earthly vessels in shape, so we can live long and strong to serve our lord on earth. But let us also get fit, spiritually, so we can prepare to obtain those eternal glories…the crowns that we may cast at His feet and serve Him forever.

So eat your lacto-ovo, vegan, raw, organic, locally grown, eco-responsible, green foods and enjoy. Go ahead do yogalates, zumba, bootycon or what ever gets your heart going. But don’t neglect So Great a Salvation! Do the most important work (which is not really work): Please turn to Christ as Savior NOW.  If you do you will know what it is to truly Live, both now and forever in Heaven.

You will live eternally somewhere…