YOU ASK WHY I AM HAPPY~ ~ ~ ~

YOU ASK WHY I AM HAPPY, SO I'LL JUST TELL YOU WHY~ ~ ~ ~




MY SINS ARE GONE
by:N.B. Vandall

"YOU ASK WHY I AM HAPPY SO I'LL JUST TELL YOU WHY, BECAUSE MY SINS ARE GONE;
AND WHEN I MEET THE SCOFFERS WHO ASK ME WHERE THEY ARE. I SAY,MY SINS ARE GONE

THEY'RE UNDERNEATH THE BLOOD, ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY, AS FAR REMOVED AS DARKENSS IS FROM DAWN; IN THE SEA OF GOD'S FORGETFULNESS, THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME, PRAISE GOD, MY SINS ARE GONE!"

As I pause to remember the day that Jesus took MY sins away, how happy my heart becomes. I remember the moment as I knelt at that old time altar on an old hard board floor, as I gave my life to Jesus Christ. The burdens I had carried for as long as I could remember that I was a sinner. Suddenly they were gone!!Just plain gone! They were no more! Jesus had taken them away.I was free!I was a new creation in Christ Jesus.I was clean, I was born again. This time, my soul was set free!

"'TWAS AT THE OLD TIME ALTAR WHERE GOD CAME IN MY HEART, AND NOW, MY SINS ARE GONE;
THE LORD TOOK FULL POSSESSION, THE DEVIL DID DEPART, I'M GLAD MY SINS ARE GONE,

WHEN SATAN COME TO TEMPT ME AND TRIES TO MAKE ME DOUBT, I SAY, MY SINS ARE GONE; YOU GOT ME INTO TROUBLE, BUT JESUS GOT ME OUT, I'M GLAD MY SINS ARE GONE."

When we find ourselves doubting or in fear of our circumstances,then we MUST remember if Jesus Christ saved us and we did nothing for that salvation then it is He that keeps us. We do not keep ourselves!! Thank God for that! I just know that when I surrendered my life, knowing I was a sinner and that I could do nothing to save my self I knew that I needed a Saviour. So with child like faith, I placed by my will, my life totally in the hands of my Saviour, Jesus Christ to save me. He did!!So, today as I did back then 57 years ago, I believe that Jesus saved me and it is He that keeps me!! So, when Satan come to us and cause us to doubt or fear anything in our circumstances, I go back to that WONDERFUL DAY, WHEN JESUS TOOK MY SINS AWAY.!!

In 2Timothy 1:7-9.....For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God' Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to OUR works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

"I'm living now for Jesus, I'm happy night and day, Because My sins are gone; My soul is filled with music, with all my heart I say, I know my sins are gone."

I am just a sinner saved by grace, God's grace, When I say sinner, that is what I am!! But I am different that those who have not been saved by God's grace, I'm saved because when God looks down at me, He does not see me but He sees the blood of His Precious Son who shed His blood to cover my sins and when I accepted His payment for those sins,(which was the shedding of His blood).When I think of all that my mind will even comprehend in the things He went through leading up to and including the shedding of His blood,on the cross of Calvary, my heart breaks because of HOW MUCH, He gave for me that day!I am overwhelmed with love and thanksgiving for what He was willing to do for me! "I say, I know my sins are gone."

Why would I not do everything in my power to live for Him. YES, I fail at time but always striving to be more like Him, in my living and in my thinking.It breaks my heart when I know that I have failed Him and have not lived in a way that is pleasing to Him.I want to be daily more like Him and live more close to Him. I count nothing to great a sacrifice!Not the "pleasures" of this world, not my pride, my life. It all belongs to Him.

NOW LET ME TELL YOU WHY, I KNOW MY SINS ARE GONE! BECAUSE GOD'S WORD,(THE BIBLE)TELL ME,as put into the words of a song writer:

"THEY'RE UNDERNEATH THE BLOOD, ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY, AS FAR REMOVED AS DARKNESS IS FROM DAWN; IN THE SEA OF GOD'S FORGETFULNESS, THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME, PRAISE GOD, MY SINS ARE GONE."

Thank you for letting me share this with you today. Sometimes my heart overflows with God's great love for us all and especially when I think of His love for me, I just have to share it!!connie

Splinters, Support Beams, & Swine – Part 2 of 2

Matthew 7:1-6  Judge not, that ye be not judged.  (2)  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  (3)  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  (4)  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  (5)  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.  (6)  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Today, we will take a look at the last two lessons the Lord teaches us in these verses

Splinters, Support Beams, & Swine - Part 1 of 2

Mat 7:1-6  Judge not, that ye be not judged.  (2)  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  (3)  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  (4)  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  (5)  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.  (6)  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

There is much confusion about what is meant by the statement that is begun in 7:1. Anytime anyone tries to point out a sin in some Christian’s life, they usually will quote 7:1. Coincidentally, that is usually the only Bible verse they know, too! The word/phrase hear speaks of “condemnation.” We are not to be the ones to condemn anyone – God is the only holy one who has that ability and authority. But we are to judge righteously, as we will see from a further study today. There are three truths that the Lord is teaching us about our daily walk with Him from this Scripture that we will take a look at the first one in this post.

LOONEY TUNES! PETA: Don't call animals 'it' in the Bible – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

PETA: Don't call animals 'it' in the Bible – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Download the AV 1611 Bible .pdf (free)

http://www.2shared.com/document/Jbj7-MCV/1611_King_James_Version-.html

Download the original AV 1611 Bible, and see how God's Word has not changed since the original inception; save for updates to the English language.

Jeremiah 2:5-13

Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Jer 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

Jer 2:6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

Jer 2:7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Jer 2:9 ¶ Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

Jer 2:10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

Jer 2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

Jer 2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Guilty-The Fallacy Of Your Good Works Outweighing Your Bad Deeds

Lev 6:1-5  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (2)  If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;  (3)  Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:  (4)  Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,  (5)  Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.

Throughout the ages, man has been at odds with what God told Moses in these few verses listed above. When considering life after death, there is a great number of the population that have this idea that, “My good will hopefully outweigh my bad and God will let me into heaven." Those who put their faith in trust in that belief have a tough time with God’s assessment in verse 4, “Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, AND is guilty, he shall… {emphasis mine}”  Notice all that the sinner is to do in restoration to the one he sinned against in vs. 5, “…he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall ADD the fifth part more thereto…{emphasis mine}” So, in an effort of restoration, the sinner is required to go above and beyond in which he deceitfully took or lied about. Yet, he is still guilty before God!

I WANT TO BE A BRIDGE BUILDER!!

BE A BRIDGE BUILDER

"Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox.

"I'm looking for a few days work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."


The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work -- handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder.

"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."

~Author Unknown~



I often search my heart to see if I am tearing down or building up. I wonder how many times in this life, my words have been used to tear down rather than build up. To my shame,I am sure there have been too many times.

We are in need to guard our hearts so that no evil thing can take root and sprout and grow and by our words or actions or attitudes, many will be hurt.

Have you ever noticed how easy a "weed" can grow. It takes nothing at all really, just a place to take root. They are very hard to stop, once they begin to grow. Too much sun, want kill them, Too much water want drown them. You can stomp on them, yell at them, but nothing works. They have to be taken out by the roots.

If in our lives we see these kind of thoughts, attitudes, actions springing up, We need to do whatever it takes to rid ourselves of them before they grow and grow and become stronger and stronger and spill out until we have destroyed or crippled people. None of us would want to ever hurt someone we love or even people we do not know but our words and actions and attitudes can choke and kill any love we have for someone. They can smother any good feelings we hold in our heart for another.

Attitudes do not need words to express themselves. They scream out our feelings that lay buried in our hearts. Soon, it is clear to all.... that, there is an ugly root that is in our heart growing and consuming us. We must do what it takes to get rid of this thing that kills the heart and spirit of others. That takes from them their desire to keep trying.

Attitudes as well as the spoken word can kill our testimonies for the Lord that as Christians, we highly value. We must guard our hearts!! Keep any and all "weeds" from growing there.

Instead, we need to be bridge builders. We need to lift up those who are discouraged and feel down-trodden.We need to made amends where we can. We can never know what goes on in the heart of another so we need to be on guard as to what thoughts we allow ourselves to have and to harbor. We need to think before we speak. Say as little as is possible and when we do speak, make sure it is something that will bring honor to the Lord, we love and serve.

Always seek to be the one, who takes the pain, the heartache, the burden, for we know that we can lay all those things at the feet of the Saviour. We, in this world who want to live the Christian life must seek to be bridge builders and not ones who go around tearing down.

WHICH AM I?

I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a ho-heave-ho and a lusty yell,
They swung a beam, and the side wall fell.

I asked the foreman: "Are these men skilled,"
And the men you"d hire if you had to build?"
He gave a laugh and said: "No, indeed!
Just common labor is all I need.
I can easily wreck in a day or two
What builders have taken a year to do."

And I thought to myself as I went my way,
Which of these roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by the rule and square?
Am I shaping my deeds to a well-made plan,
Patiently doing the best I can?
Or am I a wrecker who walks the town
Content with the labor of tearing down?
By: Ruth B. Teasdale

I want to be a bridge builder, how about you? Have a great day, I love you, connie

Showing Off & Losing Out–Part 3 of 3

MATTHEW 6:1-18

Today, we will look at the last of three areas that we do not want to be a hypocrite in and show off if we do not want to lose our heavenly reward.

DON’T SHOW OFF IN YOUR ABSTAINING

Mat 6:16-18  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  (17)  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;  (18)  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Here, Jesus is saying when you fast, don’t do it for a show and a pat on the back. If you do, that will be your reward,  and what a waste it would be.

During Jesus’ day when the scribes and Pharisees fasted, they would:

• Disfigure their faces and put on a sad countenance.
• They would mark their faces with superficial coloring to look like they had been fasting for a long time and lost weight.

The right kind of fasting is needed today, just as much as prayer is:  Mat 17:14-21  And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,  (15)  Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.  (16)  And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.  (17)  Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.  (18)  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.  (19)  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?  (20)  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  (21) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

How much have we missed out because we are not willing to sacrifice and fast? This is something I myself need work in. When is the last time you were so desirous to see a prayer answered that you fasted? When was the last time you wanted to grow closer to the Lord and were willing to sacrifice to do so?

Two things to remember about fasting First, have a specific reason to fast. Don’t get so busy that you skip breakfast and at lunch decide – “Well, I might as well fast.” Some of us might do well to do a fast for physical reasons, but if it is to be a spiritual fast you need to have a spiritual purpose.

Secondly, do nothing externally to draw attention to your fasting. While there are some Bible examples of public fast proclaimed, you would do better to not even tell anyone if it is for personal spiritual gain. What a shame to spend time fasting, just to lose the reward because you want others know about your sacrifice. People may find out you are doing a fast, but don’t let them finding out about it to be your motive.

When it comes to Alms – Asking – Abstaining –are you doing them, and how are your motives?

Showing Off & Losing Out–Part 2 of 3

MATTHEW 6:1-18

Today, we will look at the second of three areas that we do not want to be a hypocrite in and show off if we do not want to lose our heavenly reward.

DON’T SHOW OFF IN YOUR ASKING

Mat 6:5-15  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  (6)  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.  (7)  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  (8)  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.  (9)  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.  (14)  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  (15)  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

In this section, Jesus is telling us not to try to impress people by the content of our prayers. But, we are to go into our prayer closet in secret. Does this mean you have to literally get into your hallway or bedroom closet to pray? No. It means to find a quiet place alone with no distractions so you can be completely focused.

One of the things we notice is that God not only hears our prayers, but He judges the motives of our heart. How does God view your prayer motives? Reminds me of the Laodicean church from Revelation. They were neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. It disgusted God so much that He wanted to spew them out of His mouth. The Laodiceans believed that if they kept repeating the same words in prayer, and kept repeating certain phrases, their words would reach Heaven and impress God.

The Jews of Jesus’ day were known for their repetitious prayers. They prayed 3 times a day – at 9 o’clock, 12 o’clock, and at 3 o’clock. Each time they recited 18 different prayers. A devout Jew prays much more than that – they pray when they drink water, when they eat, when they walk through a door, etc. Spending lots of time in prayer is a good thing as long as it does not become repetitious.

To many of the Jews of Jesus’ day, they spent so much time in meaningless, ritualistic prayer that it meant very little to them. It became a public spectacle as they stood on the street corners to be seen by everyone, and offered long, flowery prayers in the synagogue that were long on words and short on heart.

God is not interested in the length of your prayers, or how many syllables it contains – He wants to know that your heart is in it. And that is often the most difficult part of prayer.

In this post I am just covering certain things that we can do that would cause us to lose our heavenly reward – and praying for false motives is one of those. This is not necessarily a “How to pray” message, though we see an example, or model for prayer, here in 6:9-13 -- 

• Who – Our Father
  • Heavenly Father
  • Hallowed Father – holy
  • Heaven’s Formula –Praying God’s will be done.
• What – Our Needs
  • Provisions – our daily bread
  • Pardon – forgiveness
    • Our Wrongs
    • Those who wrong us
  • Protection
    • Temptation
    • Turmoil
• When – For Ever

Ultimately, remember that you are praying to God, and not to man. When you try to impress man with your prayers, God is not impressed and your reward is lost.

Showing Off & Losing Out–Part 1 of 3

Matthew 6:1-18

No one likes a showboat. Before the millionaires began fighting with the billionaires about money, the NFL had been for many years cracking down on celebrations. They league office determined that more of their fan base was tired of the egotistical showboating.

As Spring is just around the corner here in MI (yes, I know it has officially turned Spring this past Sunday, but here in MI we call this time of year “Sprinter,” a mix between winter and spring) baseball season is just around the corner. What happened to a ballplayer who takes a little too much time around the bases after hitting a homerun? He is liable to get plunked the next time he comes to bat.

One of the reasons why so many are turned off by religion and church today is that there is too much showboating amongst Christians. American Christianity has become too much about me, and not enough about Him. It was Dr. Raymond Barber who once said, “Many Christians have a full display table but empty shelves.”

Jesus surmises it in one word: hypocrisy.

Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Luke 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

Matthew 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

And this is just a small sampling size. Jesus had no use for hypocrites. Most Christians have no problem pointing out most hypocrites except for one – themselves!

In the next few post, we will be studying 3 forms of hypocrisy that can be practiced within the church. In the full text listed above, we know these are warnings to believers and not the lost because of the phrase Jesus uses – your Father which is in heaven (6:1).

Some people give only to demonstrate their own generosity and not help others. Some pray as if their prayers were addressed to people. Some fast, not to humble themselves before God, but to show how self-disciplined they are.

Now, Jesus makes it clear that there are rewards to be earned. Salvation is not a reward; it is a gift of grace and mercy. Rewards can be described as dues paid for work. There are rewards to be earned for heaven. “To be seen of men…glory of men…” - The hypocrite who does the right thing for the wrong motive is rewarded. The hypocrite misses on a lasting, eternal, heavenly reward for cheap, temporal, earthly recognition. Many Christians should take time to enjoy all the “pats on the back” they get, because that is the only reward they will ever get.

We need to ask ourselves the question, are we all show and no go; are we SHOWING OFF AND LOSING OUT? Jesus shows us in our text three areas that we do not want to be a hypocrite in and show off if we do not want to lose our heavenly reward. We will look at the first one today:

DON’T SHOW OFF IN YOUR ALMSGIVING

Mat 6:1-4  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.  (2)  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  (3)  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:  (4)  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

What Jesus is basically saying here is, “Hey, don’t show off your generous giving.” Thayer’s give a good definition of the word “Alms”

• mercy, pity, especially as exhibited in giving alms, charity;
• the benefaction itself, a donation to the poor, alms

These are the folks who like for you to know exactly how much they give. They are the ones who hold up the offering plate so everyone can see them give. When the only time we give is when we are “touched” by a special need – then you have your reward. Our motive should be to give faithfully and cheerfully.

The word “alms” is a shortened form of the word “almsgiving.” The word is sometimes used interchangeably with the word “righteousness.” So, it can be said that almsgiving is the rendering of ANY Christian service or righteous deed.

In essence, Jesus said don’t show off when you give, when you do something good to help someone out, or any kind deed you do. Don’t develop an “I” problem: look what I did, look what I done, etc.. When our gift or our service is motivated by anything but a desire to please God and to help others, two things are true:

• Nullifies the worth of the gift
• Reveals your true nature as someone who is conceited

Let’s not show off in our almsgiving so we do not lose our heavenly reward.

The Dump Truck at My Door

I awoke to the loud beeping of a reverse alarm and an engine noise near my house. This truck sounded strangely close. It wasn't trash day. There was no construction going on in my area. What could this be? I reached for my bathrobe on the bedpost, and without even stopping by a mirror to comb my hair, I went to the front window. Before my eyes, and my front door, was a large dump truck. My heart started pounding. What in the world was this?! I heard the hydraulic lift raising the bed of the dump truck. Just then, a knock on my door. I ran to open the door, despite my "sleepy head" appearance. A man stood before me in cover-alls to guard against the nippy start to the day. "Hi ya, lady. Where do want the load today?" The man had a kind of northern accent, and was chewing gum. (I thought this to be quite odd at 6 AM. I hadn't even had a cup of coffee yet!) Pushing these thoughts aside, I stared at him rather blankly. "Load?" I asked. 

"Yeah." he replied. "Ya know, your load of benefits for the day? Just tell me where ya want 'em and sign here." He said, shoving a clipboard with an attached pen in my face.

"Oh. Of course!" I said, looking down at the paper before me. It read:

Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

This was my daily load of benefits from my Father! I hastily signed my name and smiled. "I'll take them right here." I said pointing at my office, where I read my Bible every day, and talked to my Father. "Okey dokey!" the man said to me while smacking his gum. He released the back of the truck and I watched in amazement as the benefits poured into my home! There was good health for the day. I saw "love, joy, peace, gentleness, long-suffering, meekness, goodness, faith and temperance". There was the Holy Spirit! I saw "good husband, Mother, children, sister, brother, and in-laws" pass by me. I smiled at "godly and praying friends" as it rolled past me. I had a tear to my eye when I watched "a goodly heritage" come inside my home. It was a blessing to my heart to open a small package that contained "God's compassion for the day. Lamentations 3:22-23" There were so many more, that I haven't time to tell you all of them! I did not earn any of these benefits! They are all just perks to the Christian life.

How could I forget that these benefits would be arriving? This was something that the Lord gave me everyday! Probably because, like all of us, I tend to take things for granted. Nevertheless, the Lord is there everyday, with His "dump truck" load of benefits and blessings. Today, however, I was reminded to thank Him for them.

Of course, this story is fictional, springing forth from my overly-active imagination! I thought that if I could literally receive a "load of benefits" at my front door everyday, then maybe I would be more grateful for that which I already do receive everyday! Because they aren't always visible, I often forget about the benefits and blessings that the Lord bestows upon me every single day of my life, and for eternity! Why, even during times of trial and testing, His "load of benefits" still arrives at my "door" every morning.I thank the Lord for this unspeakable gift!

~Valerie

MY IDEA OF A LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

I once read the following quotes on a blog of a friend of mine, whose name is Maxine. She is the author of http://scrapsofglory.blogspot.com? This is a wonderful Godly lady and she has two blogs and both will be a great encouragement to you. I highly advise you to go over and meet her. You will not be sorry. connie


My idea of a last will and testament would be the same as a man called Andrew Duncan, dated April 14, 1626.

"About himself he said:

'...First, as touching myself, body and soul; my soul I leave to Christ Jesus, who gave it, and when it was lost, redeemed it, that He may send His holy angels to transport it to the bosom of Abraham, there to enjoy all happiness and contentment; as as for this frail body, I commend it to the grave, there to sleep and rest, as in a sweet bed, until the day of refreshment, when it shall be reunited to the soul...'

"About his children, he said:

'As for the children whom God hath given me, for which I thank His Majesty, I leave them to His providence, to be governed and cared for by Him, beseeching Him to be the tutor, curator, and agent, in all their abodes, yea, and a father; and that He would lead them by His gracious Spirit, through this evil world; that they be profitable instruments...holding their course to heaven, and comforting themselves with the glorious and fair-to-look-on heritage, which Christ hath conquered for them, and for all that love Him...'

"Of his possessions, he said:

'As concerning my temporal goods, the baggage and blathrie of the earth, as I have gotten them in the world off God's liberal hand, so I leave them behind me in the world; giving most humble and hearty thanks unto my heavenly Father for so long and comfortable loan of the same."

Oh, Lord, I can think of no other greater 'last will and testament' than the prayer prayed by this Godly man.

Help us to always remember WHO created us, saved and redeemed us and will one day take us home to live eternally with Him in a home He has prepared for us.

As for my children, I have no greater prayer than that they be found faithful in loving and serving you. If they lose their way, I pray, Dear Lord, please open their eyes that they might see "YOU" and only "You." Draw them always closer still to Your side. Lord when out of your will, please don't let them sleep or be at peace until they have your PEACE.

Of all the things you have loaned to me on this earth to make my journey here as good as it was possible, I thank you,and love you, Dear Lord, for all that you have given to me.connie


P.S. Thank you, Maxine for once sharing this with me. It has been a great blessing to me since I first read it.

Don't Trust in Horses and Chariots

According to Isaiah, not only is it a good idea to trust God, but it's the only way to go!  And you can trust God's prophets, because if anything they said wasn't true, they had to be put to death.  So you can pretty much count on this one: God is the One who should be trusted.

Once you're neck deep in a mess that's beyond your control, trusting Him is easier said than done.  We tend to rely on ourselves, because we figure we can handle it.  The fact is, we can't handle it and we know very little about ourselves if we believe we can.  Sometimes we cling to parents, peers or our pastor for strength, but these people cannot be spiritual enough to face our trials for us.  Each of us must learn to lean on God for ourselves.  Finally, there are those who resort to wordly things for comfort.  Again, wrong choice!  

1	Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
2	Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.
3	Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.  -Isaiah 31:1-3

The worst thing you can do is "go back to Egypt" when the going gets rough.  Many of us have lived a wordly lifestyle of some degree before salvation, so returning to its ease and comfort seems like the natural thing to do.  Before Jesus rose again, the disciples were so distraught over His death that they went back to their old profession: fishing.  It's easy to slide into the old habit of "trusting in chariots" because they're familiar and visible; who wants to put their trust in Someone you can't even see?

The truth is, all the "horses and chariots" Egypt can give you aren't really that strong.  In the end, he that helpeth (the world) and the holpen (you) will fall.  Isaiah says, Woe to them that look not unto God, neither seek the Lord!  In the words of a great hymn, "I must tell Jesus; Jesus can help me, Jesus alone" (I Must Tell Jesus).  Life is not for the faint at heart.  Don't trust in whatever you left in Egypt; they're no match for God.  Trust in the One that wiped out the entire Egyptian army at the Red Sea Crossing; He will bring you safely through!

Picture: bible-history.com

FAITH AND FINANCE: HIS PURPOSE IN OUR FINANCES

Just starting here, but want to read it all?  At the end are the links to each article in the series.

SECTION TWO: HIS PURPOSE

One of the reasons that people in cultures like America today are struggling financially is that we misunderstand God’s purpose for our finances.  There were times when it was a “dream” to own a home of our own and now it is expected. 

While it may not seem like it to us with our mounting payments and decreasing paychecks, but our society is one of affluence.  Largely the books written by financial experts are how to make your money grow; how to become a millionaire by retirement; and how to make the most of your money.  They are all geared to people who have extra money.  Because we have grown up in an affluent society, we feel that these plans must be for us.  Yet, many of us who have a desire to be a good steward with our finances and “invest for the best future possible” find that we only have the means for today.

Most of us are strectching the money from paycheck to paycheck.

I want to encourage you that you are not necessarily irresponsible, hopeless or bound for destitution if you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck.  IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE FINANCIAL PEACE WITH OR WITHOUT FINANCIAL PROSPERITY.

God did not promise the means for savings, retirement, college and insurance.  These are the responsible things to do IF, let me reiterate that, IF God allows us to have a SURPLUS in our source of financial income.  God’s word stresses: “sufficient unto the day.”

Someone Turn On The Light–Part 3

Mat 5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 
Today, we will look at the final reason to “turn our light on.”

CHRISTIAN’S DUTY

Every born-again believer should remember that it is the Christian’s Duty to Glorify God in their Faith. If your faith is not worth living, is it worth having? To most Christians, faith is nothing more than a “Get out of jail free” card that has little or no value to them until they die.

But this is not Bible faith. Works may not save us, but they should follow us soon after our conversion. The Bible tells us in James 2:18-20, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

People cannot see your heart, but they can see your works. We should be willing to step out by faith and do something so impossible that only God could accomplish and that only God could get the glory from it when others witness it.

Secondly, every born-again believer should remember that it is the Christian’s Duty to Glorify God in their Finances. Our bank balance shines a light into our heart for others to see. Jesus taught us in Luke 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Treasure, whether gold, silver, etc., shines and glistens. Our light will reflect our treasure – whether it is the things of the world or the things of God.So many people sacrifice for the temporal (vacations, clothes, cars, etc) but not the eternal things of God (church, missionaries, church planting, etc.)

Finally, all born-again believers should remember that It is the Christian’s Duty to Glorify God in their Fruit. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

Maybe no one listens to your help/advice because they don’t see anyone around you (fruit) that have been helped? If we shine our light consistently, there will be those that we find that are tired of the darkness and will respond to the light of the Gospel. Maybe some Christians have never seen a soul saved in their life is because they are not shining their light – they have put it under a bushel.

Jesus is the light of the world, and we are to be the light of the world. He is the son, we are the moon. Are you reflecting the light of God’s grace and mercy, or has sin put your light under a bushel? Are you living your life as a city set on a hill that is pointing people to Jesus Christ?

Someone turn on the light.

And this in America? Court upholds decision ordering child to attend public school

Court upholds decision ordering child to attend public school

Someone Turn On The Light–Part 2

Mat 5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

If you missed the first installment, click here for part one. Now, lets look at the second reason why we should “turn on the light.”

THE CALL OF DARKNESS

The call of darkness is so great, the first place we need to shine is in the Sanctuary. People who come into our churches need to see light. They are looking for answers, and our churches, which are, “the pillar and ground of truth,” should have those answers. As a pastor and teacher, it is my responsibility to teach and preach the truth of God’s Word and shine the light that they need.

But, the responsibility does not stop there. It is everyone’s job to shine your light inside the church so that others may see God in you. No one wants to enter a cold, dark church. They came from that, they want to see and experience something different. Often times, the problem is not that Christians don’t want new people to come and join their church. They are just too afraid to step out of their shell and get to know people. It should be all of our goals to be  friendly,outgoing, and compassionate to visitors in our churches. GET OVER YOUR FEAR & GET INVOLVED IN PEOPLE’S LIVES!

Another great way you shine your light in the sanctuary is by using your talents for the Lord in the Lord’s work.Whether it is singing in the Choir, working with babies and children, greeting people and helping them find their place,etc., there is something all of us can do in order to shine our light in the sanctuary. One place people ought to see our good works and glorify God is in the sanctuary.

Another place we need to shine our light is in the Streets. Someone once said, “The darker the night, the brighter the light shines.” This world is a very dark place. I remember as a kid going to Carlsbad Caverns with my family. I don’t remember much, but I do remember  the tour guide turning off walkway lights as we got near the bottom of the tour. It was so dark, not only could you not see anything, but you could literally feel the chill of the darkness.

A little light makes a big difference in the dark. Gracie, my 5 year old, cannot go to sleep at night without some sort of little light. There are flashlights and toy lamps all around her room. Whichever light she chooses (or, which ever one has enough battery juice to work!), makes a big difference to her. Her little light penetrates the darkness around her to give her safety and comfort.

We shine our light in this dark world by witnessing and soul winning. There are a lot of different methods and means by which to do this – the key is just to do it! Many Christians do what they can to speak to people they have never met to tell them about the Lord. But don’t go so far out of your way to talk to those you have never met that you forget to witness to those God brings into your life/path.

If you have ever spent any time trying to tell people about Jesus Christ, especially in a strong Catholic area like Metro Detroit, you might ask yourself the question, “Why is it that so many are opposed to hearing the Gospel today?”

We must remember that when you are used to the dark, your eyes hurt to just a small amount of light. How shocking is it to your eyes every night when you turn on the bathroom light after they have adapted to the pitch black of darkness? There is no difference, spiritually speaking, when we shine the light of the Gospel in dark places.Just keep shining the light of the gospel, and there will be those who respond. We have a responsibility to be a lighthouse of God’s grace and mercy to those who travel our way and warn them of the danger to come.

Happy Brother Patrick's Day?

If you have read Phil Stringer's book, Faithful Baptist Witness, which outlines independent baptists by doctrine from the time of Christ down through the ages, you may be familiar with his claim that "Saint Patrick", was indeed a saint (as in being saved), but was in fact likely a baptist missionary!

Here is an article (GARBC) about Saint Patrick on this day we celebrate him as a catholic saint. "Patrick should be rescued from his ecclesiastical kidnappers. That is, we have as much claim upon him as does Roman Catholicism. Patrick’s faith and practice were more consistent with our theology than with Roman Catholicism."

Some of his points are:
"First, Patrick saw Scripture as the supreme religious authority. He never appealed to the authority of the church, even when it would have served him well. He never mentioned a church council or creed, although his doctrinal statement closely parallels the “Rule of Faith,” a creed common in his day (Confession).

Second, Patrick made no reference to baptizing infants. He once reported that he “baptized in the Lord, so many thousand men” (“Letter to Coroticus” in The Life and Writings). The word “men” implies that he did not baptize infants.

Third, absent from his writing is any mention of purgatory, Mariolatry, or submission to the authority of the Pope, which, although an argument from silence, suggests that Patrick did not believe in them, did not hold them as significant to true faith, or was ignorant of them.

Fourth, the legacy of Patrick’s ministry is evident in the churches he established, which continued to be sound in doctrine well into the ninth century. They were amazingly evangelical (compared to the Roman Church of the day), teaching original sin and the impossibility of salvation by human merits or effort, Christ alone being the sinner’s righteousness. Additionally they taught the vicarious atonement.

Fifth, in his Confession, Patrick recognized the agency of the Holy Spirit in conversion. No doubt it became a tenet of the church’s doctrine. Sixth, the teaching of justification by faith is a key aspect of Patrick’s contribution (The Life and Writings). Seventh, Patrick believed in the intercession of the Holy Spirit and of Christ (quoting Romans 8:26 and 1 John 2:1). But he never mentioned the intercession of saints, angels, or Mary."

The writer asserts that: "The man we know today as St. Patrick was kidnapped twice: first by Irish pirates, then after his death, by the Roman Catholic Church." Read the entire article HERE.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

THE BATTLE IS WON!!!

I have been absent for a short while, maybe some of you wonder why? I have been on the battlefield fighting a fierce battle.

I have seen the storm clouds for sometime now but tried to pretend that they would not touch me. But the enemy has been very close! I could not see "him" but I felt his presence everwhere I turned. He used some of the most treasured things in my life to try to make me surrender. He tried to make me believe "what was the use of it all if in the end you are hated and unloved? He fought hard but in my heart I had a memorial service always going on. I remembered the ONE who died for me. Shed His blood for me! Paid my sin debt so that I could be saved. All of this cost me nothing and yet, it had cost Him everything!!I remembered how everything in this life that was good had come from His Hand. I remembered that He had never left me nor forsaken me, NEVER!! I remembered that even though I am so unworthy, He IS the worthy ONE. I had nothing before I met Him and accepted His Grace and His love. Now, I have everything in Him!!

He used the precious things of my life to hurt, confuse and burden me Then I remembered that without Him I did not have them anyway. In Satan's attemp to confuse me there were times I did not understand, He tried to take my mind off the Lord and the reason why I was created and given life in the first place.It is to bring Him pleasure and for my life to bring Him Glory.

For some days now that battle had been rageing and at times I did feel that there was no help nigh. There in the darkness my heart cried out for the light of the morning to come! In my heart at the memory of all that I had in Him, my heart would calm, my fears be relieved, and the joy and peace He gives would take it's rightful place.

Even though, my outer body bears the scars of the battle that has taken place, my soul is well! As a Christian Soldier, I am here to report that "MY GOD REIGNS!! Praise His Holy Name!connie

Giveaway at Coupon Newbie (my blog)

In celebration of the 500th Facebook fan, Coupon Newbie is giving away any one of these eight books from Amazon.com! There will be three winners picked. Here is the list of choices:


To enter go to CouponNewbie.com. Each person can enter up to nine times. Giveaway ends 3/31/10 at 10 pm CST.

Mending Fences

Years ago this fence was part of what we called the "calf pasture"...a small, fenced in place behind the barn. It could be cut off from the regular pasture which covered many acres so that the newly born calves could be kept close to or even inside the barn for protection. Today as I looked at all that's left of the fence beside the barn I saw that years of neglect had taken its toll. Weeds and vines and briers had grown up on the fence and pulled it down. It's not fit to keep anything in...or anything out. If my memory serves me correctly, the fences were one of the deciding factors in our selling our cows several years ago. Or maybe it was the lack of fences! Either way, we could not afford to buy all new barbed wire to build new fences for our 80 acres and we could not keep the old fences in good enough repair to keep the cows from getting out......often!!

Which reminded me....in our current Moore Bible study she talked about fences one week. About how we need fences in our lives. For protection. For security. We must have boundaries. We need fences. The laws in our government serve as a kind of fence in our lives. We are protected by laws that say one person is not allowed to kill another person. We are protected from wrecks by having red lights or stop signs. You may be thinking, "But people still get killed! People still have wrecks!" Yes, but that is because someone tore down the fence and broke the law!

In Week Three of our study, Beth talked about a magazine article she read which told of a woman who raised minature horses. The woman's neighbors had a small wildlife park with a variety of exotic animals. There was, of course, a fence between their properties. Evidently neither of these property owners kept a very close eye on their fence to check and see if it needed mending. But, indeed, it did need mending. How did they find this out? One day the lady who raised the minature horses looked out her window and a male lion was tearing her favorite horse to shreds. True story. Then Beth added this statement: "Tragically, we often don't realize part of our fence is down until Satan, the roaring lion, is devouring something precious to us right on our own property!"

Is it time to mend some fences? Maybe just walk the fence just to see how things are? I don't mean this in a literal sense but in more of a spiritual sense. Are there things that you used to not feel comfortable doing that don't bother you anymore? Are there "colorful" words in your vocabulary that you never would have let slip from your mouth in years past? Sometimes we just stop paying attention to whether or not our lives are pleasing to God and we let little things slip in here and there. Just like that fence I was looking at today down by the barn. The vines that weigh it down today were once just little baby vines that could have easily been cut back. Had we not sold our cows, I'm sure Benny would have kept them cut off the fence. Or else, he would have been chasing baby calves everywhere!
But unless we practice checking and mending our fences, we are liable to let all kinds of sin weigh down our lives until we have gaps in the fence and then we've got trouble!

Robert Frost wrote a poem called "Mending Wall" where he talks about walking his "wall" (or fence) in the spring looking for gaps or breaks. Here's a line from the poem:"The gaps I mean, No one has seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there."

How true...sometimes we don't see or hear them made....but when we walk the fence, "we find them there"!

I imagine we all need to take time this spring to "walk our fences" to see if they need a little mending here and there. We don't want to wait until Satan devours something precious!

Marilyn

Islam is as Islam Does - Murdering Children

Why They Celebrate Murdering Children - Andrew C. McCarthy - National Review Online

IFBKJV.com

The Blog Directory now has 58 authors (up to 100 can be added). If you are an author, but never plan to post here, please let me know. I will remove you as an author, but not your blog from the directory. If you are a member who wants to post on the main page here, please let me know and I will send you an author invite.

Posts and reposts here on IFBKJV.com's main text area can be on any topic, as long as the blog is written by an independent Baptist who loves the KJV! No other version (of course) will be allowed, unless in an article on other versions (of course).

The main page here is like a potpourri of many types of blogs. You can post sermons, thoughts*, recipes, news, blessings, youtube videos and hymns, giveaways, funny pictures, poetry, household tips, quotations that impress you, really anything that you are doing on your own blog. Feel free to link to your own blog so readers can find more of your posts if they like them.

*If you write devotions, please let me know, and I will add you as an author to the KJV Devotional side of IFBKJV.com.

You Tell 'em Davey Crockett! Not Yours To Give

Not Yours To Give | Foundation for Economic Education

Hannah's Honor

Life often times presses upon us.  We find ourselves carrying burdens, some for a day or so others seem to always be there lurking under the surface seeking to rob us of joy and peace.  It bubbles up and we have a bad day or week.  The burdens capture our attention and they grow in size and weight until they have reached such huge proportions that faith fails and even God seems inadequate for the scope of our burden.  It is important to note that just because faith fails this does not mean that God has failed.  A weak or shrinking faith does not indicate a weak or shrinking God!

God is ever the same.  His power is never diminished.  His ability is never compromised.  His control is never relinquished.  This is why we are exhorted in 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.  This is a learning process.  We learn over the course of our Christian life how to do this.  It was Paul who reminded us that "I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content".  He learned it and we can too.  It is a matter of learning to cast care upon a God who cares!

Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 sets the example.

Vs: 2 - Hannah had no children
Vs: 5 - Hannah was loved by her husband
Vs: 5 - The LORD had shut up Hannah's womb
Vs: 6 - Hannah was provoked by an adversary, which was her husband's other wife who had borne children
Vs: 6 - Hannah was caused to fret because of her situation
Vs: 7 - Hannah was provoked to such a degree that she wept and did not eat
Vs: 8 - Hannah had become inconsolable
Vs: 10 - Hannah was in bitterness of soul, she prayed, and she wept sore
Vs: 15 - Hannah was sorrowful of spirit and poured out her soul before the LORD
Vs: 16 - Hannah was a woman full of grief and had a complaint
Vs: 17 - The man of God told Hannah to go in peace and the LORD grant your petition.

Then a remarkable thing is recorded in the next verse (18).  And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight.  So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

Having encouragement from the man of God that the LORD would answer her petition her outlook changed completely.  Her problem was not gone, but her faith had been restored.  Her burden was just as real, but someone else was now bearing it.  This resulted in her going her way, eating (appetite restored), and her countenance being no more sad.

This is the honor of Hannah!  She teaches us what it means to cast all our care upon him.  We learn from her example what it looks like when we successfully take our burden to the LORD and leave it there.

Is your heart heavy today?  Pour out your heart before Him.  Give the burden, every last ounce of it, to Him.  He is able!

Has Converging With Evangelicals Been a Dangerous and Failed Experiment?

A good article by Lou Martuneac

http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2011/03/has-converging-with-evangelicals-been.html

Anonymous comments will not be allowed. 

Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 

Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist.

He has served the Lord for over 40 years.

Winning the Heart

10 Principles for Spirit-filled Discipline
By Cary Schmidt (published by permission)

The stories are too numerous to recount—Christian parents totally losing it—dads in fist fights with sons, parents in shouting matches with spouses, mothers hurling curse words and personal slurs at their children. Broken glass, holes in sheet rock, and doors slammed off the hinges are just the tip of the iceberg of the real damage. The wounded hearts, the broken relationships, and the closed spirits are the highest prices paid for such uncivilized family life.

Excuses abound as well. “I never had a Christian home.” “Well, my dad hit me a few times too.” “I’m under a lot of stress at work.” “Nobody understands my needs.” “There’s a lot in my past that I’m angry about, and sometimes I take it out on my family.” The fact is, every parent could come up with an excuse for fleshly outbursts because we’re all bound by the flesh!

It’s time for carnal parenting to be banished from Christian homes. If you’re tired of parenting in your flesh—if you’re tired of seeing your own parents in the mirror—then read on. God has a different roadmap for biblical parenting. It’s not rocket science, but it will require a teachable spirit, a humble heart, and submission to basic biblical guidelines. It will require personal growth, teamwork with your spouse, and the development of new habits—Spirit-filled responses.

Regardless of the home life you have experienced, if you know Christ, you are a perfect candidate for becoming a Spirit-filled parent of wisdom, grace, self-control, and loving authority. A carnal parent and a Spirit-filled parent are night and day different! And the products of Spirit-filled discipline are stronger relationships, closer hearts, changed lives, and the list goes on. In an effort to build godly practices into our discipline, let’s quickly discover ten principles that govern Spirit-filled discipline. Discipline that develops the heart is:

1. Controlled and Premeditated
Spirit-filled discipline doesn’t fly off the handle or out of control. It isn’t easily provoked into rage. Personal anger, frustration, and temper are set aside or allowed to cool off privately with the Lord. Proverbs 16:32, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Colossians 3:21, “Fathers provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”

2. Biblically Principled and Corrective
Spirit-filled discipline rests upon the authority of God and His Word, and it isn’t easily manipulated. It always brings a biblical truth into play and helps the heart understand God’s position. In other words, this isn’t about my agenda as a parent. It’s about helping my child understand God and His agenda. Therefore, I won’t be easily manipulated by excuses or emotions. I will be more focused on teaching my child God’s precepts. Proverbs 19:18, “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.”

3. Instructive and Nurturing
Spirit-filled discipline moves beyond reaction and actually instructs and teaches. Too often our discipline is merely a reaction to a moment rather than a premeditation of development. Real discipline will think through the values, the heart, and the character of the child. Real discipline isn’t only punitive; it is restorative and instructive. It’s not merely about handing down punishment. It’s about training the character. Proverbs 4:1-4, “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.”

4. Focused on Beliefs Rather Than Behavior
Spirit-filled discipline seeks to understand the beliefs that drive behavior, not merely to change behavior. Carnal discipline is very self-centered. It seeks to get the child to behave the way I want right now—thus avoiding embarassment or resolving my temporary frustration. It basically says, “I don’t care about your long-term character, I just want you to stop annoying me right now.” Spirit-filled discipline always sets self aside and focuses on the development of the child’s heart. It’s not about modifying behavior, but modifying the heart! Proverbs 23:26, “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

The Fine Art of Waiting

Everyone I ask agrees: this semester has been a busy one.  The student teachers have material to study and classes to lecture; the staff is already stressed from the conferences we've hosted and the ones looming over the horizon; I'm taking more teaching classes than I've ever thought possible; and GloryBound has traveled almost every weekend!  Although life is continually busy, there are still those times when we feel like we're just sitting around waiting.

Last week Tim and the rest of GloryBound left Saturday at noon and didn't get back until Tuesday afternoon.  This weekend, he left yesterday around lunchtime, came back tonight, and is leaving again tomorrow morning!  Talk about busy.  Being on the other end of the deal, I have to keep myself occupied with activities to keep myself from missing him "too much."  Yes, there is such a thing!

Waiting is a fine art, and a lost one, if you ask me.  Nobody likes to wait, but it's gotten really bad with this "fast-food culture" generation.  Who enjoys waiting more than five minutes for lunch at McDonalds?  Who likes standing in line for two hours to ride the new tallest roller coaster?  Neither do we enjoy waiting long-term for graduation, marriage, or whatever else for which we dream.  There must be a way to wait without completely losing our minds!

Whenever Tim travels over the weekend, I occupy myself with something fun.  I've cut back on "retail therapy" (shopping!!) due to my status as "poor college student," but there are plenty of things to do that are cheaper than a new pair of shoes!  I go to my best friend's house and watch movies, I have lunch with a bunch of girls, or I do the unthinkable and finish some homework. =)  If you find yourself struggling to keep your sanity during your time of waiting, I recommend journaling, blogging, or cartooning your progress through this period of your life.  I've done all three, and they've benefited me beyond words!

I also recommend purposefully not thinking about it.  By choosing to not dwell upon your lot in life, you choose to reject discouragement.  Count your blessings.  Think about how good God has been to you, and you'll soon be on a mountain of blessings you forgot you had!  Most of the time we blow our circumstances way out of proportion, which can lead to a sin called complaining.  The children of Israelites got in trouble for this one on numerous occasions, so don't even go there!

Time flies when you're having fun, someone once said.  In the South, we make friends while waiting in line.  Soon we'll be talking about random things, laughing and carrying on, when all of a sudden it's our turn next and the quick friendship is sadly diminished.  I find that even the longest, loneliest weekends seem shorter when I'm enjoying myself.  When you're facing a long, boring wait in life, learn to enjoy the ride!  After all, getting there is half the fun!  You might not believe me -- but if life is what you make of it, a trial of your patience can transform into a party!  

Basically, the fine art of waiting boils down to these three things: 1) Document your progress -- you'll look back on it later and praise the Lord for everything He taught you.  2) Think happy thoughts and avoid complaining at all costs.  3) Find joy in the journey.  All of these are learned behaviors and do not come naturally, especially when we're so used to whining about every little thing (remember, we live in that fast food culture).  While the flesh tugs at us to murmur and despair, God has something better in mind for us.  Why not look back on this stage in life and think, "You know, at times that wasn't easy, but I really did enjoy it... in a weird kind of way!"  It does seem weird, because it's humanly impossible, but it's yours for the taking through God's goodness and wonderful plan for this part of your journey.