Thursday, December 29, 2011

Render To Caesar

   Our pastor keeps telling us to render to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar when it comes to job responsibility. Also at tax time he says the same. And in Romans 13 we are told to be subject to the governing authorities.
    God is very interested in our daily life and does not wish us to be disobedient. The reason being is that He has set them up as authority. Government has got to control man. Mankind, since the fall, has needed control. It makes no difference if the authority is good or evil. God placed them there and to God they will give an account.
    Knowing that makes all the difference. God will judge, not you.
   How am I doing? Is there any issue you wish to have me comment on? Of course, it will be from the Christian viewpoint. Here I stand, I can do no less.

Sex and the Bible

  Got you with that title, didn't I? The Bible has a lot to say about the subject of sex. In fact, a whole book is in the Bible about sex. For those in the know they will flash to the Song of Songs or the Song of Solomon. It is known both ways. It is about love between Solomon and  one of his wives. It details courtship,the wedding and after.
  If you need help in this area Try Here.
  Of course most of you reading this have no problem in this area so I may be writing and suggesting for nothing.

Bible Study Important

 For proper Bible study you must have a system. It is not wise for everyone to start at Genesis and march through the Bible without some guide. By the time that reader got to Numbers, or Leviticus, he will slow down. And the Chronicles will slow him down also.
  So some guide must be provided. I have a place one can go for help. One is on the book of James--For help, click here. 
   
  You can start in the New Testament book of John. "These things have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His Name." John 20:31 (NASB)

Christain Growth Needed

    It is important  once a person becomes a believer that growth happens.Growth happens through attending a Bible Believing/ Bible Teaching church. Growth happens through prayer and the application of faith. You must also read your Bible. Martin Luther made it possible to have a translation in your mother tongue. Before him all that was available was the one chained to the pulpit for the priest to read and interpret.
    People had to be taught to read. Then they had the Bible they could pick up and ingest. I suggest that you take a small section and read it. Take notes as you do so. Find a verse or two in the day's reading to memorize.
   "Your word have I hide in my heart that I might not sin against God."  Psalm 119:11.
    And there are books you can read to help. I will offer you one link and you can go see about it; Click here.  The offer is for Ebooks.
    Growth is slow but steady so don't get discouraged

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Christmas Coming Up

  Soon it will be .December 25. That is the traditional time for Christmas. There will be family gatherings and present giving. Yes, all that. But we must not forget the reason for the season. That is that God sent His only begotten Son to earth.
    Now I know it wasn't in winter that Jesus was born. More likely in the spring. (Shepherds in the field watching their flocks by night) 
    And we must not forget that God gave the first Christmas present- His Son.
    Of course what I am talking about is an American thing. I don't know how it is done in other countries. I am aware that this blog is being read outside the USA. Share with me some of what you do around this time of year.
    This past Sunday Pastor Joe of Acts,(Info.,) gave a sermon on what Christmas meant to him. It was very well done. Christmas is a special time where God broke into history and changed it. It has nothing to do ultimately with pagan ritual. That is just a smokescreen that Satan and his demons have constructed. Yes, the date is not necessarily a good one. But it has been adapted by the church as the day to celebrate God's greatest gift.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Bible Reading Important

   I must tell all my readers that the life blood of a Christian's life is the Bible. From a daily reading he gets his spirirual food.
   I am following a plan of daily Bible reading. The internet offers a web site that makes this somewhat easy. http://www.youversion.com/ is the place. The plan has many translations to choose from. You  are not limited to an English translation. Many other languages are represented here. You can find the version you like and in the language you are most comfortable with.
   You can choose a Bible reading plan. Some are shorter than others. Some are a year long. Some are topical.
   You need to daily feed on the Word of God. We speak to God in prayer. He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit which He has given us. He uses what He  has communicated in the Bihle.
   I have finished my 30 days study of the life of Abraham and am now going though the readng of the New Testament books.
   What plan are you using to read and get the word in you?

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

God is a Trinity

 The important thing to understand about God is He reveals Himself as one essence in three persons.God in the beginning created. The Father spoke.Jesus created. The Holy Spirit hovered over the deep. The Father oversaw it all. Jesus always existed. I AM is one of the names God reveals Himself under. The self existing one. The one who revealed Himself to Moses when the Israelites were needing a way out of Egypt.
   When God became flesh in Jesus, the Holy Spirit overshadowed a young woman named Mary. The Son became flesh. The Holy Spirit dwelt inside Him to direct Him and the Father was always there to answer prayer.
   That is a bit simplistic.
   This ks one of those doctrines you have to believe if you are a true christian. You can't fudge on this one. It is what theologians call a fundamental. A must.
  

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Goal Setting

   It is important that we know where we are going with our lives and what we hope to accomplish. It is easy if you make no plans, to drift.
   A good life goal is to dedicate ourself to something greater than ourself.
   For the Christian I would hope that we would have the goal of  dedicating ourt lives to service that is pleasing to God. Not all of us can be ministers, I'm not, or a missionary or any of the front line people. Most of us have to be satisfied being background people. That we hold down jobs  that are not, in our sight, attaining any recognition. A dishwasher, a waiter, waitress, bus driver, and so on.
    But I am here to tell you, God is pleased with where you are. He knows where you are. And He is happy. He can use you and will use you.
     God can be manifested in every aspect of our existence.
     He has created us with great gifts and talents. Talents are not gifts. I know of one pastor who tells every Christian that their talent is the gift God gave them. No, if you are a Christian you have been given a gift or gifts by God, the Holy Spirit, to be used in the Church. A talent such as singing that you had before you came to Jesus can be used to fortify your spiritual gift, but it is not the gift. The voice you find you have to sing after you become a Christian, now that is another story. That voice and the songs you sing, if they are being used by the Church, could be a gift.
     God gives each one of us a bundle of interests and fascinations. It is important that we develop and cultivate and respond to these. It is important for us to see them as an avenue of pleasing God.
      Life is exciting,don't you agree?
      Feel free to communicate with me. Tell; me what your  gift is. Let me rejoice with you. 

Friday, December 9, 2011

Great Bible reading Site

   I am not getting paid to post this. It is just something I feel needs to be known.
   For book study programs that I highly approve, you can go to http://www.youversion.com/. Sign in and you can decide what version of the Bible yyou want to read. Some have audio features so you can listen to the scripture being read to you.
   There are study plans you can start.  If you are new to the idea, you can start with a small unit.. a weeks study. See if you like it. Venture out. It will aid in your spiritual maturity.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

God's Ownership

  This posting is being done on a Sunday. I have just been to service and heard a great sermon. Pastor Joe has reminded the congregation that God owns everything.
   EVERYTHING.
    God got you up this morning. He owns the day. He owns the air you breathe.
    You have money. That is His also. He gives you the ability to make money. He gave you that job. Or He gave you that investment that has not yet gone south. By using your brain, which He also gave you, you can make choices.
    Pastor Joe spoke of the offering plate. God deserves from the people He has a relationship with, rather He requests, a portion of what He has allowed them to get. "On the first day of the week, set aside a portion..."
     In the Hebrew Scriptures it was the first fruit He wanted. Today it is as a man purposes to give. God will not bless a man or woman who does not give into the storehouse. It is all His. He has allowed you to receive. If you can handle much He will give you much. If you don't have much, well, figure God knows you can just handle that much. I am not making a promise. I am just stating a principle that is in the Bible. Read your Bible for yourself.
     And be content with what you have. God is in the much and in the little. What I share with you God has allowed me to do.
      How has God blessed you this past week?