Misguided Christian Nationalists

        It's bad enough that Christianity has become more of a religion than what it's supposed to be, a relationship. Now Christian nationalism seems to have taken over more than ever before, at least here in the U.S. Politics and turning the bible into a weapon to force others to believe and behave as they dictate is, what I believe to be, more palpable. It is reminiscent to the days of Yeshua when He called out the Pharisees and called them brood of vipers. They contaminate and pollute the teachings of the Christ and entangle their political views with what they think is Christ like. They want the government to get involved when it comes to subjects like the LGBTQ+ community, making it so that businesses can refuse to serve them because they should be able to use their religion to dictate how they run a business, which is separate from religion. They want the government to get involved when it comes to abortion, taking away women's right to choose and calling it pro-life. However, it's not about being pro-life, it's about being pro-birth, because after birth, it's suddenly up to the church to help feed them when the family is unable to survive without help. They want the government to get involved when it comes to providing certain hormone medications because their religion tells them that there are only two genders, male and female. Because of their prejudice and ignorance, they don't realize that many people, young and old, take hormone medications for health issues and not solely for transgender care. So, they flip-flop between wanting the government to get involved, using religious freedom, or not wanting the government involved because of their religious freedom and the role the church is supposed to take. And, by the way, as Christians you should know that the true church are the believers, and the head of the church is the Christ. The church is not about brick and mortar; it's just a shame that many have forgotten that.

       What about immigration? Lets' talk about that. Undocumented immigrants need to be rounded up and deported. They are here illegally. Many Christian nationalists are firm on the rule of law when it comes to immigration. However, it is difficult to take them seriously about the rule of law when they voted for a convicted felon and sexual abuser into the white house. With that said, once again we can see the hypocrisy that lives within Christian Nationalism. For the Old Testament lovers, what does the bible say about the stranger (immigrant)? In the book of Exodus, we are told "Do not oppress the foreigner." Leviticus tells us, "The stranger that resides among you shall be to you as the native among you." Side note: I find it interesting how you don't pay attention to the Old Testament, especially Leviticus, when it comes to the stranger, but you're all up in it when you use it to judge and condemn the LGBTQ+ community; however, that's a subject for another time. 

       Now, I'm sure some may want to know where I got the info regarding scripture. I would hope that those of you who claim to be Christians would be able to find the scripture I have provided. However, since many of you obviously don't follow the scripture, look up Exodus 23:9 and Leviticus 19:34. You may also want to check out what Yeshua has said in Matthew 5:42-48 as well as Matthew 23:23. I would share more regarding scripture, especially that of the end times, but I don't think you would be ready for that considering there are some issues understanding the scripture I have shared so far. So that's a subject I may tackle at another time.  

       Do I sound judgmental? Maybe, however, I don't mean to be. I'm simply sharing what I see happening within the Christian community. I am saddened by what I see. As Christians, true followers of the Christ, we are to share the gospel. We are to love our enemies and treat each other with love and respect. The more important matters of the law are "justice, mercy, and faithfulness." Matthew 23:23.

       

It's About Protecting Our Children; I call BULL SHIT.

       Anti Trans Bills are not about protecting our children; it's about fear fueled by ignorance, bigotry, and discrimination. Most anti trans people have no idea what it means to be trans. Most anti trans people have no clue about the difficult steps or phases a trans person has to go through even before surgery takes place; because you (anti trans person) don't really care enough to find out. So based on your ignorance, unwillingness to educate yourself, and your discriminatory attitude, you would prefer to judge and condemn a group of people because they are different and don't fall into your belief regarding sexual orientation. What's even worst, is that many of you have the audacity to call yourselves Christians; using God to spread your hate and bigotry. I'd be surprised if you all would even continue reading, if you haven't dropped off already; willing to continue in ignorance. If you, as an anti trans person, continue to read, I applaud you and respect that you are willing to hear, or in this case read, an opinion and belief that is different than your own.

       Only four months in to 2023 and there have been 528 anti trans bills in 49 states; 50 of those bills have passed; all to supposedly protect our children. Protect them from what exactly; paedophilia? Let's look at some facts; 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused and 90% of those offenders are known to the child. 80 - 90% of the offenders are male, 10-20% of the offenders are female and about 40% of the offenders are children themselves, under the age of 12. (RAAC - Race Against Abuse of Children Everywhere) These offenders are straight, not trans or any other sexuality but heterosexual. If the offenders were from the lgbtq+ community, we both know that would be made loud and clear. And let's not forget the number of sexual abuse where the abuser is clergy, church staff, volunteers, etc.. You can look that up yourself. Again, no lgbtq+ offenders mentioned. What you will find about trans people is a great amount of violence perpetrated against the trans community. 

       I call BULL SHIT; this is not about protecting children from the trans community. If you really want to protect children, do something about the millions of children in America that go hungry. Do something about the millions of children that are homeless in America. If this was about protecting children, you would not rip trans kids away from their families and add them to the approximate 443,000 children already in the foster care system. No, this is not about protecting our children. the 528 anti trans legislation is not about protecting our children. It's about persecuting a group of people whose lifestyle you don't agree with; it's about taking away the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness from a group of people you hate so much, that you are not even willing to educate yourselves about. I won't even go into your misuse of God to judge the lgbtq+ community. That I will do in another post. 

       Though I am not a trans person, I am a part of the lgbtq+ community. When I first started hearing about the trans community, I did not fully understand, but I did take the time to try and educate myself and I am still learning. It takes less energy to learn than to hate.

        

       

Self-Care Toolbox

       In a previous blog I spoke about suicide and mental health. In that blog I mentioned a "toolbox" that can be used to help when we fall into a bad head space or in crisis. This toolbox is filled with what works best for the individual; we have control over what gets put in this toolbox because we know what works best for us. Not every situation is the same and because we are all individuals, not every tool works the same for each person. Self-Care is exactly that; what we do to take care of ourselves and deal with our situations in a way that will help keep us calm and safe.

       In order to build (fill) your toolbox, you first have to recognize what it looks like when you are well and what it looks like when you are not. For example: when I am well, I have more energy to do things, I take care of my grooming, hygiene, and I sleep well at night. When I am not well, I don't shower every day, I don't feel like getting out of bed, and I don't have the energy to go out or talk to anyone.                    Part of gathering tools for your toolbox is also recognizing what makes you happy; what makes you feel good. For me, I love working on art projects, reading about subject matters that interest me. I enjoy listening to music; especially contemporary Christian music because it lifts me up. I like to keep up with my friends and family whether it be by phone, text, or a visit when possible. All of the things that you enjoy and that make you feel good are essential for your toolbox. Also, one of the most important things you need is a good and solid support system. How many people in your life can you truly count on? How many people can you honestly call when you feel like you are at your lowest and they are there for you; to be with you and to listen to you? 

       When I was learning about how to build my toolbox, I was told I should pick 5 people that would be a good support. I found that very difficult because I am very picky about who I allow in my life; this is also a good practice in staying safe and caring for your well- being. So, I didn't have 5 people that I felt comfortable enough with to call when I needed help; but I did have 3. The reason it's important to have more than one person, if possible, is because we don't want to keep calling on the same person for support if we normally need allot of it. We don't want to bog that one person down to the point where they start to resent us; I hope that makes sense. Anyway, I spoke to those I chose to be my support and to help me stay safe and well by being there for me when I needed someone to talk to or even just be with in order to not be alone when I was having a bad day. After they agreed, I knew I was set with a good support system and yes, they have been. Therapy has also been a help for me and may be something for you to think about; to see if it's something that works for you.

       Now, you have examples of what you may look like when you are not well and what you look like when you are well. Again, it is different for everyone. Recognizing the "red flags" is important so that you can dip into that toolbox and start taking care of yourself. When my depression starts to go south and I recognize the signs that I am not doing well, I go to my toolbox and pull out what I feel can help me. I might pull out some art supplies and work on a project to help me focus more on something I enjoy and less on the negative thoughts or feelings I experience at the time. I may not feel very artistic that day and so I pull out my music and listen to it as I choose something else to keep busy and focus on; it could be the dishes or making my bed; hell, sometimes it's listening to music while I work on an art project. Again, I choose the tools I want to use that I know will help me stabilize my depression and get me back on track to feeling well. I may be having such a bad day or week that I need to go to my support people and call a friend to talk to. Build a toolbox that works for you. Think about who you have in your life that you can truly count on to call when you need support.  

       One last thing that is very important to know and understand. Depending on the person and situation, you may find ourselves in such a bad place when nothing in your toolbox is going to help. You may be in a place where you feel so lost and feel like you are in a hole that you can't get out of; maybe even feel like you don't want to live anymore. This is when you are in crisis and if that happens, there is still help. Of course, you can call 911. There is also the following you can do: call the suicide/crisis hotline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text Hello to 741741. If you are interested on getting information for Support Groups or any other information regarding mental health, you can check out the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org. 

       I know this was allot, but if this helps even one person, I am a happy camper 😊 

       

Suicide; It Needs to Be Discussed

        The subject of Mental Health has become very important to me; more so in the last ten years or so. I hadn't truly realized the stigma that comes with a diagnosis regarding mental health until my own mental health started to decline. There are many different types of mental health illnesses, especially under the umbrella of depression. Too many people misunderstand depression. Many think that being depressed is just feeling blue because the day didn't go quite the way we wanted; you got a low grade on a test or failed a test. Maybe a relationship has gone south and you're feeling heartbroken and don't want to do anything or go anywhere. Sure, these can make a person feel depressed, but eventually, you get better grades, you pass that test, or eventually, the pain from the loss of that relationship starts to decrease and you're able to move on. Depression (clinical depression) doesn't go away; it only becomes somewhat manageable whether with, or even without medication depending on the diagnosis and severity of the depression. Therapy is important and so is a good support system in family and friends. I have learned that those of us who have mental health diagnosis, can build what's called a self-care toolbox to help during difficult times. I will discuss the toolbox in a future blog. For now, I want to discuss the subject of suicide.

       The subject of suicide, which has allot to do with depression, is just as taboo as depression itself. It is hard to talk about the reasons behind one's decision to die by suicide. It's easier to just say that choosing suicide is a selfish act or that choosing suicide shows how weak a person is. But is that true? Is choosing death by suicide selfish and weak? Or is it more like we are being selfish because we never bothered to understand why one would choose suicide, and we are weak because we are the ones that can't handle the truth behind the thoughts or actions regarding suicide? That's something to think about. I cannot discuss the reasons behind someone else's choice toward suicide. I can only discuss my own thoughts of suicide and my own reasons behind attempts to take my own life. Even if I can help only one person have an understanding about suicidal thoughts or ideations, I will be a happy camper. Before I say any more, please understand that I will not share how I have attempted because the "how" is not important. It's the "why" that's important.

       As someone who suffers with Major depressive disorder, among other diagnosis, I can tell you that there have been a few times I have wanted to die by suicide and have made attempts to do so. My last attempt was in August of 2015. Believe it or not, as is true for most, I did not want to die; I still don't. What I wanted, and sometimes still want, is for the pain to go away; the daily physical pain due to some physical health issues, but more so because of the emotional pain I deal with on a daily basis. Suicide, for me, was not about dying; it was about stopping the pain because there didn't seem to be any other way to do that. I felt tired; tired of fighting, tired of not feeling like I was good enough, tired of so many things that I actually had no control over. I felt like everyone would be better off without me and that I would be better off dead. Telling someone they are selfish for feeling this way does not help at all. In fact, it just makes things worst. And, a person who is judgmental about it is generally someone that should not be in my life. A person who contemplates suicide needs support, not judgment. If you cannot provide that support, well, I guess you should really take a look at your definition of friendship or family...... Just sayin 😶

       If anyone who is reading this feels like they are at that point where nothing else but dying seems to be the best answer, stop. I know it's hard and I know that it seems like there is nowhere and no one to turn to. But please don't. I can tell you from experience that there is help and that, if given time, it really does get better. Will it ever be perfect? No; but it can get better. Will the pain fully go away? Possibly not; but there are ways to work through it. Do I still have suicidal ideations? Yes; but I have learned how to work through it and take each day as it comes, one day at a time and sometimes, one moment at a time; it really can get better. I hope this has been helpful.

       There is support and different programs that be helpful. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a great resource. They have been a great help for me and I am a member of the organization as well. I have taken many different types of training for self-care as well as training to provide support for others.  Check it out........ www.nami.org. 

       

Where is your faith part 2 of 2

       Faith, defined in Hebrews 11:1, "is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". What does that mean? It means that faith is believing that what we hope for, what we pray for, we actually have it even before it is manifested. For example, though I don't have the initial funds to get a much needed car, I will pray for it, hope for it and believe that, somehow, God will make it so that I get a car. The hope is for a car. The evidence of things not seen is my faith and total belief that God will provide a vehicle for me and thank Him for answered prayer; the evidence not seen. No one fully understands God's timing and so we have to believe in Him that our hope will be manifested and hold on to that faith and be patient for God's blessing. Then, when least expected, God answers that prayer, that thing hoped for. God, through His Spirit, places a call upon someone who is getting rid of a perfectly good vehicle and that person gift's you that car, free and clear. The evidence of things not seen is the work of God through the actions of the Spirit and an obedient person of faith. I know, sounds pretty crazy doesn't it? Like, do things like this really happen? These kinds of things do happen; it did happen. This gift of a car actually happened to me. There have been so many blessings that the Lord has provided and I am ever thankful to God for keeping all of His promises.

       As adults, it is very difficult to find that childlike faith within us. That child went away a long time ago and had been covered up with life's experiences both good and bad. However, that child is still within us and that faith, that childlike faith is definitely attainable. Don't get me wrong, when we hope for or pray for something, it is not realistic to think that the answer will come right away all of the time. Though there are times when they do, more often, we have to ait and that is when our faith is tested; that's when we need to trust Him and know that He is working to answer your prayer. My prayer for the car came within several months. My prayer to find my biological father came after 32 years of searching and praying. The point is that we have to hold on to our faith and believe that God will answer our prayers and He will make sure to do so right on time. The Apostle Paul mentions that God deals to each of us a measure of faith (Romans12:3), so we need to learn how to hone in on that faith and believe that no matter how small we think our faith is, God can still use it. So where is your faith? Dig down deep and find that inner child and you may find that measure of faith that's needed to keep hope alive and to allow God to manifest that which you hope. God is awesome at that.

     

     

Where is your faith? Part 1

       There was a time when Jesus and his disciples were on a boat. As Jesus slept, a storm approached and as it grew stronger causing water to enter the boat, the men feared for their lives. They woke Jesus up asking that He save them because their lives were surely in danger. When Jesus woke up He asked why the men were so afraid and said "O you of little faith"; then Jesus stood up, rebuked the storm and then, the storm was gone, The guys were in awe and were like, "who can this be that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" (Matthew 8:23-26)
       There was another time when the disciples were out on the boat. Jesus was not with them at that time, but eventually, they saw Jesus walking on the water toward them. They freaked a bit and thought maybe it was a ghost, but Jesus spoke out to let them know that it was indeed Him. Peter called out to Jesus and asked to prove that it was indeed him and told Jesus to command that Peter too walked on the water. So Jesus did, and Peter walked on water; until a wave came and became afraid and started to sink. Jesus pulled him up to safety and once again said "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
(Matthew 14:25-31)

       Doubt and Fear have been the enemy of God and His children from the very beginning as read in Genesis regarding the fall of man, Adam & Eve disobeying God. They are strong adversaries and more often then not, doubt and fear find a way into our hearts causing us to miss out on the blessings God has for us and miss out on being witness, through personal experience, to the power and never broken promises of God. Doubt says miracles don't happen anymore. Fear says I'm not good enough and will never be good enough for God to bless me. Let me tell you something about doubt and fear; they are the spawn of lies which smoothly slithers out of the mouth of God's enemy. There is a weapon that is available to all of us that can and will defeat the lies of doubt and fear; and that weapon is faith. It's not just any faith, but the faith of a child.
       A child's faith is unwavering, it's raw; a child has perfectly blind faith. When the disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus pointed out a child and said "unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, who ever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven..." (Matthew 18:1-4). Obviously a grown adult cannot magically transform into a child. However, as adults we need to be as humble as a child, unconditionally loving like a child, fully trusting like a child and as faithful as a child to God. That means believing in and having faith in God; as a child would. Where is your faith; where on the line of adulthood does your ability to be like a child lay?

Where the heck is God & why is He doing this?

       During this time of uncertainty it is easy to become afraid and unsure of the future. Social distancing a key to staying safe even though there are many who do not care to follow the rules. Hording and selfishness causing doubt about humanity's ability to come together to combat an invisible enemy. Thank God, however, for those who do what is necessary to keep each other safe; not only to the point of losing their jobs, but even to the point of losing their own lives. Often, it is times like these, because of fear and anger, that many ask where is God and why is He doing this.
       Make no mistake, God is still here and He is not the one to blame; though it is easy to blame Him because we don't want to take responsibility for our own actions. Blaming God is easy; look what happened with Adam and Eve. Eve chose to listen to the serpent and Adam chose to listen to Eve and then Adam had the audacity to try and place fault and blame on both Eve and even on God when Adam said to God "the woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate" (Genesis 3:11). The fact of the matter is that both Adam and Eve were at fault for making the choice to disobey God. The same holds true even today. Man is free to make decisions, even bad decisions; and when he/she has to live with the consequences of their actions, they want to blame God. We are where we are today because of the actions, or inaction, of man, not God.

       Anyone who truly knows God and has a relationship with the Father, I pray, will remember His truth and His promises. Yes, I include myself because I too can fall into the thoughts created by fear. I am by no means perfect nor claim to be. So this is just as much for me as it may be for many of you. Regardless of what is going on in the world we must remember that God is always with us and will strengthen us and uphold us in His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).  He promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We either believe in His word and His promises or we don't; there is no in between. We are hot or we are cold, but we cannot be Luke warm and straddle the fence; (Revelation 3:15-16; 1 John 2:15-16). We have to remember whom we serve and whom we worship. We have to remember that God is not a man and so does not lie or change His mind about anything that He says (Numbers 23:19). So during this time of uncertainty, we have to remember to do our part and pray; pray for those who have chosen to fight the good fight for all of us. Pray for them and their families. Pray for those who are forced to work though unessential workers; for those who are forced to work because they have no choice. Pray for our leaders, whether we like them or not. Pray because God hears us. Pray to God the Father, by the power of the name Jesus the Christ and the action by that power in the movement of the Holy Spirit..............
Amen.

     

     

     
     
     

HE Will Make A Way

"He will make a way".

This is something that has been popping in my head for almost a month. An affirmation that would come to fruition when I least expected it. I have always been lacking in the patience department and always pray that God will help me be more patient; not just with the general things in life, but also when it comes to God and the prayers I lift up to Him. God definitely works with me to be more patient as He sometimes waits until that eleventh hour to answer my prayer; and of course,  during the hours prior, I get anxious and worried. Though I know better, I worry about whether or not God has heard my prayer; though deep down inside I know He has.

During the waiting process He does remind me of His promises. He reminds me that I need to be quiet and rest in Him; to be still, know and trust that He is God (Psalm 46). He reminds me that, regardless of what I want, He knows what I need and He has a plan for me. He reminds me that I am never alone as He is always with me and will never leave me (Hebrews 13). I have to be patient and trust in Him knowing that His plan will provide a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29). He reminds me that He is God; and unlike a man, does not lie and does not change His mind (Numbers 23). God has always been faithful and true to His word. It's always me that second guesses things because I am human, impatient and tend to rely on my perception of how things should be and how quickly the things that I want to happen need to happen. I forget sometimes that I can't do that; I can't hold on to my way of understanding because, compared to God, I understand nothing. If I want God to bless my life, to show me what He wants and where He wants me to go, I have to acknowledge Him and and trust in His plan so that He will tell me where to go or what to do (Proverbs 3). It's taken me a very long time to have the kind of trust and belief in God and in His promises. But when I made the decision to believe, to trust and to build my faith in Him, He has shown me His love, His mercy, and yes, His provision. 

I have been through a lot in this year of 2019. And it has gone by so very fast. I have kept communication with my heavenly Father and kept seeking the things of God through the teaching of His Son Jesus and and through the power and counsel of the Holy Spirit. I am not perfect and I know that I have disappointed the Father a time or two, but the good thing is that He continues to be with me and that His love is unconditional. As the close of 2019 commences, my awesome God continues to bless me even with my imperfections. A couple that I know, who will remain nameless out of respect for their humbleness, surprised me with a car. I believed that I was meeting up with them about a much needed space for Healthy Concepts, the nonprofit I volunteer at. When I got there, I was handed a title and keys to a car. I thought I was on some kind of hidden camera show because these things I've only seen on tv. But it was real. They wanted to be a blessing to someone who needed a vehicle and they gave it to me. I believe that God answered one of my prayers through them. God uses anyone He chooses to be a blessing to someone and He used them. I so pray that God bless them both tenfold for their obedience to His Holy Spirit. I believe that God is closing this year on a positive note for me, which gives me hope for what's to come in 2020. 

So on this day, December 31, 2019, I praise God for His movement in my life, for blessing me with awesome friends and family, and for His love and His provision. I will continue my life's journey with God in the forefront. I pray for a blessed and prosperous New Year for all who are reading this now. I do pray that, regardless of your faith in God or lack of faith in God, that He bless you and keep you in His mighty hand and under His wing. 

Happy New Year!!!

$$ "Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas" $$$

Truth pill to swallow;

Everyone who truly knows me understands and knows that I am a Christian; not in name only. I truly believe in and have a relationship with Jesus The Christ and do my best to strengthen and hold on to my faith IN HIM and his promises no matter how bleak life feels at time. I believe in and try to follow the teachings of The Christ; hence the name "Christian" and everything God will always be first in my life. 

With that said I want to share something that might upset some people; Oh no, me upset people?? LOL. Anyhoot, what I am about to say is exactly what I believe and how I feel. And no, no particular reason for this lil rant. 

We say "Happy Holidays" because saying Merry Christmas may upset those who are not Christian or upset those of organized religion that have members of the Christian faith. After all, there are many religious holidays during this time of year for Christians, pagans, and others........  

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642813/These-are-the-14-religious-holidays-believers-celebrate-in-December.html

Many Christians get upset and cry "Jesus IS the reason for the season and I will continue to say "Merry Christmas".  For a long time I was on this train every year; now, not so much. Truth pill; Jesus really isn't the reason for the season. In fact, He was not born on December 25th. He was born some time during mid to late Autumn..... September, October, somewhere around there. We celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th because that is when the church decided to celebrate it in order to "fit in" with the pagans or other non-believers in order to get them to convert to Christianity and start attending church. Long story so do the research. Even after learning the truth about this I will continue to say "Merry Christmas" and celebrate the season which would include love and good will toward man since, after all, it has been adopted as a "Christian" holiday regardless of the truth behind it. I highly doubt God would mind lol.

Now; Here's some more (sad) truth; with every year that passes by Christmas becomes less and less about God, love, hope, and good will. It becomes more and more about SALES, SALES, SALES. This year, as I walked through a walmart a day or so after Halloween, and Christmas music was playing. What?! We weren't even anywhere near Thanksgiving yet. The sad thing is that this gets worst and worst each year and you want to know why? Because WE make it that way. Sale, Sale, Sale; Buy, Buy, Buy. If there were no one to line up in front of stores, camp outside of stores all night, and then charge through the doors as they barely open, trampling and hurting others for that SALE, Christmas might still look and feel like Christmas. Shame on us. What had eventually become a Christian Holiday as we celebrate the birth of our King during that time has started to change into a holiday for sales; for money $$$$$. 

I wonder how many people would be willing to give up one Christmas of gift buying and simply make Christmas about spending quality time with family and close friends. You know, no gifts, just building and strengthening relationships. Oh but the kids; yeah, yeah, yeah, they'll get over it. Besides, what truly more important to to teach our kids? It's all about the gifts or it's all about the love. There really is no in between. UGH... I need some water to swallow these truths.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

At The End of The Day, Does it Matter?

At the end of the day, what truly matters? You can label yourself a Republican or a Democrat, but at the end of the day does it really matter? Have you shown love today? Have you given an ear for someone to listen or a shoulder for someone to cry on? Have you shared some laughter or some joy with anyone? When the day turns to night and you lay your head on your pillow, are you satisfied? Are you content? Can you come to The Father with your prayers knowing you did His work today? If you died tonight, does what you did today matter?

You can label yourself straight or gay, but at the end of the day does it truly matter? Have you lent your hand to help someone in need today? Have you fed the hungry? Have you clothed the naked? Have you sheltered the homeless? When the day turns to night, was there a life you made happier? was there a soul you gave joy to? When you lay your head on your pillow, are you satisfied? Are you content? Can you come to The Father with your needs knowing you helped others with theirs? If you died tonight, does what you did today matter?

You can label yourself Christian or label yourself as what ever man-made religion you choose to call yourself, but at the end of the day, does it truly matter? Have you treated someone with kindness today? Have you shown compassion and selflessness today? Have you protected the weak or shown mercy today? When the day turns to night and you lay your head on your pillow, are you satisfied? Are you content? Can you come to The Father with your hopes and dreams knowing you helped someone with theirs? If you died tonight, does what you did today matter?

A Gift - This Is For You

I read all the posts that many parents are sharing. Kids growing so quickly; posts about preschool all the way through to high school and college. As I read them I pray. I thank God for the opportunities I have shared in raising and caring for children during my life. I pray for safe travels; that school buses stay safe and that the driver and any caregiver riding along will care for the many lives on that bus; that schools stay safe and that God keep the enemy out. So many growing so fast; learners permits, driver's licenses, first cars. 

My gifts; is what I heard. They are My gifts. I smile to myself and chuckle; then respond with "yeah they are". Children are more than the minime's. They are more than part of life's cycles. These children, all of them are gifts; gifts from God to His children that they might raise them up to love Him just as much as He loves them and us. He keeps them safe in a package called the womb. He does His work to create them just the way He wants them to be created. I also believe He hand picks those whom He chooses to entrust a new child to.

A parent realizes, only after becoming a parent, that there is a love that surpasses all understanding. The love of a partner; a husband, wife, sister, brother, cousin, aunt and uncle all the way to grand parents. There's a love shared between friends. But there is nothing, absolutely nothing that compares to that love which is bestowed upon those who get the opportunity to give and receive a love that they have never known. A parent is more than one who provides the seed in which to plant in the womb. A parent is more than one who carries this gift in her womb. A parent is far more than blood and genetics. A parent is one whom God chooses to care for and love a new life. God places, I believe, a special and different kind of love in many parents who open their hearts and lives to children that are not their own. Because some people are unable to have children of their own does not by any means determine their ability or capacity to love and to nurture. Personally, I believe that God looks upon those who cannot and makes a way for them to have this gift that only God can provide. It takes a special man, a special woman, to accept and to love with an open and pure heart the child or children of another. I believe that this kind of love is a gift all in its own. Because God is an awesome God and whether you believe in God or not makes no matter because He believes in you; and that's what matters.

God makes no mistakes. He doesn't take away, He gives. He uses [many times] bad or hurtful circumstances and turns them into something wonderful; so long as we are open to receive His gifts. God can and does use the negative and turns them into something positive. So to you who may not be able to become a parent in the way most can, know that you have a special place in the plans of the Creator. You have that special kind of love that breaks the boundaries of biology and what a gift that is. For those who have received your gifts as many do, know that there is a reason you were chosen. There are no mistakes with God. There is no such thing as a child that cannot be cared for. Be glad knowing that you were chosen to care for the precious gift that only God can give.

All we can do, as parents, is love our children, teach them the ways of God and then when that time comes for them to leave the home, know that God is always with them. Be glad and be proud that the Creator of all things has entrusted you with a precious gift or gifts; and know that He provides you with the ways in which to raise them if you only allow Him to. And remember this always; that the way in which your heart was filled with a love that surpasses all love for others; that special love that a parent has for his/her children is only like a spec in the sand in comparison the that love which God has for His children; us. Believe or don't. This is meant for whom ever He means it for.

God Bless You

My Revelation on Creation

Every now and again I go to the Old Testament and start reading. Granted, I have read it many times but I believe by experience that as I grow older and gain more knowledge I see something in the word that I had not noticed before; and this holds true for all 66 books of the bible. I remind myself to no longer depend only on what I have been taught by man, but to depend on Holy Spirit to counsel me, teach me, and remind me of His word as Jesus explained to the disciples before He ascended up to heaven. With that said, I start reading about God’s mighty power shown through creation. As I come near to the end of Genesis chapter one and the first seven verses of chapter two, I have an “aha” moment; I have a revelation. I hope I can explain this properly as I get excited and tend to veer off, so here it goes:

In the book of Genesis from verse one to verse 23, we read that God created the heavens and the earth; trees and herbs; grass, the universe, the all living creatures in the water and the creature in the sky. This all took place during the first 5 days of creation. The 6^th day starts at verses 24; in this verse as well as verse 25 we learn about the cattle on the earth, beast of the earth and all according to its kind as God had commanded regarding procreation [be fruitful and multiply].  Now, still on day 6 starting at verse 26 to 31:

“Then God said, let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.; So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and said unto them “be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it……””. In verses 28 to 31God continues to tell them what they have dominion over and what was available for them to eat. The last verse, 31, states the end of the 6^th day. Ok Susan, some might say; what’s the big revelation? There’s nothing new here. My revelation didn’t hit until I started reading chapter 2.

Moses writes in the second chapter that on the 7^th day God rested from all He had done. He had blessed the 7^th day and sanctified it because He rested from all His work. Moses continues to say in verses 4 and 5 that “This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, before any plant of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground”. Did you see it? In chapter 1 verses 26 and 27 is when God created man in His own image and likeness; this was on the 6^th day. Yet in Chapter 2 during the 7^th day Moses states that there was no man to till the ground. So what happens next? In chapter 2 and verse 7 [still the seventh day], “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being”. If he “became” a living being, it would stand to reason that there was not a living being prior to the forming of a man from the ground and after man was created in God’s image and likeness. So a quick recap; day 6 God created man in His image and His likeness. On day 7 there was no man to till the ground and so God formed a man and breathed life into the man and then the man became a living being; interesting isn’t it? So now what?

Well, according to the scripture God made man in His image and likeness. What is His image and likeness? Jesus tells us that God is Spirit (Nelson, 1997, p. John 4:24). So when God made man in His image and His likeness, it would stand to reason that He made spirit first, both male and female; giving them dominion over the earth. He told them to fill the earth and subdue it (Nelson, 1997, p. Genesis 1:28). God made the spirit man before he formed the living man. “The Hebrew words that “made” and “formed” are translated from are two completely different words with two completely different definitions! The term “made” is translated from Hebrew word #6212, which basically means “to prepare” and the word “formed” is translated from Hebrew word #3335 which means to “form, fashion, frame”. In other words, God “prepared” every living thing in Genesis 1, but did not actually bring it into physical form until Genesis 2” (Randy Lee, 2014), (James Strong, 2001).

What do we do with this information? Personally, I praise God even more than I had before coming to this realization. The creation story is not just Moses telling us that God made the universe or Adam and Eve, but it’s about the omnipotence of God. It’s about the great power and might of our God. The beauty and awe in His work; in His power; and to know that this is the same God that loves us today. What an absolute blessing. A little over twenty years ago I started to study the word of God and I did so based on that which was taught to me by men and women of God. About eight or nine years ago I really started to dig deeper in my studies. I decided to no longer depend solely on man to teach me God’s word, but to solely trust in Jesus’ promises and know that Holy Spirit will teach me and guide me in the right direction. That meant I had to stop being religious and start working on my relationship with God and start learning how to put faith into action. God has opened my eyes to His word and I am just so excited about it. I’ll be sharing more about the things that have come to light for me.

 

James Strong, J. R. (2001). The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Nelson, T. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible. Nashville.

Randy Lee, R. A. (2014, January). The Controvercy between Genesis 1 & 2. Retrieved from Devoted to Truth: www.ecclesia.org/truth/1-2.html

Christ Fulfilled the Law

Jesus said “Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled”. (Nelson, 1997, pp. Matthew 5:17-18). When Jesus hung on the cross there were seven things that he had said; one of those was 3 simple words; “It is finished” (Nelson, 1997, p. John 19:30). These two scriptures, though from different books, are important regarding the argument some may have about whether or not we still live by the law or that we no longer live by the law but by grace. Many say that the law must still be followed in addition to accepting grace and the ultimate sacrifice of love through the crucifixion. So, how about we take a closer look at the biblical facts as provided through scripture; through the very words and actions of our Lord, The Christ; Jesus.

Let’s break it down a little shall we? Hopefully you already know and understand that the original Old Testament text was in Hebrew and the New Testament was in Greek. So, since we are in the New Testament, I want to use my other bible and verse 17 reads “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until [no translation] may pass away [no translation] heaven and [no translation] earth, one letter or one stroke may in no way pass [no translation] from the law until everything takes place” (Eck, 1990, p. 14). Notice anything different between the two bibles? There are sometimes words in Greek that simply cannot be translated in English. There were some Greek words that had no translation, hence the brackets indicating so. The translation would be left up to the author’s best educational guess. And of course, the author is human and fallible. Therefore, the author is not always correct in his/her translation. This is why I believe it is so important to have a relationship with The Lord because The Holy Spirit is the one to assist us in learning and knowing the truth.

Now, Jesus reassures us that He did not come to earth to abolish or destroy the law which is the Old Testament or the Old Covenant which contains many of the laws for His people including the Ten Commandments. These would be the many mentioned in the book of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, etc.; and He didn’t. What He did was “finish it, or, in some bibles the word accomplished is used. He said that the law would not be destroyed or abolished until when? “………. Till all is fulfilled”; “…….until everything takes place”. What had to be fulfilled? What had to take place? The prophecy had to be fulfilled. The final and ultimate sacrifice had to take place. Paul said that the wages of sin was death and when he said that he wasn’t necessarily talking about a physical death but a spiritual one. Why? Because our physical bodies are mortal and eventually die and return to the dust from whence it came, but our spirit lives are immortal; it lives eternally with, or without, being in the presence of God.

Jesus fulfilled the law, it was finished; no longer do we have to live by the law because Jesus fulfilled all obligation of the law when He died on the cross for our sins. Does that mean we now have cart blanch to do whatever we want; to sin? No. It was made clear that the Ten Commandments were still in place when the discussion between the young ruler and Jesus took place (Nelson, 1997, pp. Mark 10:17-22). In fact, not only do the Ten Commandments still have to be followed, but Jesus added another commandment. He said “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (Nelson, 1997, p. John 13:34). The commandment to love one another as He loves us is so important that He said it twice. The law was fulfilled; finished when Jesus died on the cross. Now, we live by the grace of God through His love act through the ministry, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus The Christ; Immanuel; The Son of God. Knowing and understanding the things of the OT are important as we need to know and understand the power of God as well as the love of God. Much of what we learn in the OT can be utilized in our lives today; but it is no longer the current law, nor the current commandments that we are to live by. It IS the New Testament; it is what Jesus taught; that is why we are Christians; we follow the teachings of Jesus the Christ.

Do you have to believe this? Absolutely not; however, I do and it is what Jesus said, what He taught while He was on earth, and now, what the Holy Spirit teaches me that I believe. Am I right and someone else wrong? Well, I believe I’m right based on what I have learned thus far, but no, it doesn’t mean I believe I’m right and you’re wrong. It just means that this is what I believe to be true regardless of what anyone says. I am confident in what I believe and I can only hope and pray that you are totally confident in what you believe to be true. In the end, we will all find out when we finally come face to face with The Father because it’s not just the sinners that get judged, but the Christians still get judged as well. Becoming a Christian does not exempt us from judgement day before God. As long as we follow the teachings of Christ and follow His commandments we shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Our job now, our responsibility now is to spread the Gospel; the good news of Jesus the Christ. To let everyone know just how very much God loves them and wants them to have a relationship with Him. It really is that simple.  It’s about a relationship; not about a religion; big difference. It’s not about the laws of the Old Testament and the atonement of sins, but now about the New Testament and the forgiveness of all sin through the sacrifice of Jesus; it’s about mercy. I don’t know about you but I am much happier with building and maintaining a relationship with The One who created and formed all things than, well, not.

 

Eck, O. V. (1990). The New Greek English Interlenear New Testament. Tyndale House Publishers.

Nelson, T. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible. Nashville.

The Biblical Definition of Marriage

The definition of marriage and the right to be treated equally have been a big debate for such a long time. There was a time when I had struggled with the subject and it was that struggle that pointed me to a new direction in my faith. I decided to stop listening to man tell me what God says and start going directly to God. I decided that I would no longer simply read the scripture, but decided it was time to study it. I decided to no longer depend on what man says but depend on what Holy Spirit says. With that said, understand that I do believe that assistance from other men and women of God is necessary in my studies, not because they are always right, but because they can help me understand things a little bit better or can even point me in a direction that would be more helpful to me. If I am given advice or explanation of a specific scripture, I take what I have learned and bring it to God. I let the Holy Spirit tell me what is right, what is wrong, what is important, and what is not. After all, isn’t that what a Christian is supposed to do? Christianity is about building, maintaining, and strengthening a personal relationship with The Father through the teaching of The Son and the counsel of the Holy Spirit.

Having a relationship with someone means spending time with that person, talking to and listening to that person. It’s the same thing with God; and who better to teach me the scripture and help me understand and get to know God than His Son Jesus who teaches us by way of The Holy Spirit as promised in John 14:25-26. In order for me to be in the spiritual place where I can do this I had to strengthen my faith; feed my spirit with the bread which is His Word and be truly able to let God lead me in all decisions I make. I had to learn how to really be confident in and truly believe the promises that our Lord has made. Then and only then can I start having that relationship. I wanted to know what God wanted for me. I wanted to know how God feels about who I am. So, I needed to focus more on the infallible Lord God and less on fallible man. Allow me to share with you what I have learned in the past 23 years of studying and building my relationship with The Father. In regard to the definition of marriage; today it is believed that marriage is between one man and one woman. Many Christians say that creation proves it because of Adam and Eve. So, let’s take a look at that shall we?

In the second chapter of Genesis we read about how God took a rib from Adam and created a woman from that rib. When she is presented to Adam he says “this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.” The author of Genesis [Moses] further states that “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” It is because of what Adam said and what Moses said that so many believe that the biblical definition of marriage is that it is between one man and one woman. However, the biblical definition of marriage is much more than just Adam and Eve. Lamech [Gen. 4] had taken 2 wives for example. In the books of Genesis, second Samuel and first kings we also find that David had 7 wives and many concubines, Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, Gideon had many wives; the list goes on. If you read through Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, much of the Old Testament, you will find that women were property. A woman was property of her father until married at which time she becomes her husband’s property. The woman’s desire, according to God, is to be to her husband and he will rule over her. Don’t get your panties in a bunch; I’m not making this up.

The definition of marriage, according to the bible, is about business transactions, property, polygyny, and procreation. Now, Polygyny is when one man has two or more wives; polygamy is when either man or woman has multiple partners. Biblically, it was polygyny that was normally practiced. There is so much more about the role of a woman and how wives were treated. My point is what? The biblical definition of marriage is obviously NOT simply between one man and one woman. The scripture that proves this totally outweighs the one scripture so many turn to prove their definition of marriage. I wonder how many of the one man one woman people are truly all about the biblical definition of marriage? A lot would have to change huh? 

Religious Liberty & Gay Marriage Part 2 - The Definition of Marriage

In the beginning, the book of Genesis, Moses writes about creation. We know that God created formed man out of the ground [Adam] and we know that He formed woman [Eve] from one of Adam’s ribs. When Adam is presented with the woman Adam said “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man”. Moses then writes that “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Nelson, 1997, pp. Genesis 2:23-24). This piece of scripture is what many Christians turn to in order to prove that the definition of marriage is a union between one man and one woman.

The problem with this is that they are wrong [my opinion] and here is why I say they are wrong; in ancient Israel polygyny is the norm, which means many wives. Polygamy is many partners of either gender. Solomon, for example had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. That can be found in the book of First Kings. In second Samuel you can find that David, the apple of God’s eye, had seven or eight wives and Jacob also had multiple wives. Many of our Christian fathers had many wives and many concubines. These guys were blessed. In case there’s doubt, let’s look at something God said to David; “thus says the Lord God of Israel; I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping” (Nelson, 1997, p. 2 Sam. 12). Did you see what I saw? God gave David the wives. W-i-v-e-s; plural. I am sure that with further research and study you will find more like it in ancient Israel, but for now, I just wanted to provide some biblical scripture that shows the biblical definition of marriage and, as you can see, it was not between one man and one woman, but between one man and many women. Women were used very much like property to be sold or taken; whatever the agreement or situation happened to be.

This doesn’t necessarily show just cause for gay marriage does it? Maybe not, but it does show that marriage was not biblically defined to be between one man and one woman. With that said, allow me to make clear that I do not believe in Polygamy or Polygyns; I am all for monogamy. Now, we are made male and female for the purpose of procreation; to be fruitful and multiply; to subdue the earth. Just read Genesis; God is pretty clear about that. This has nothing to do with a loving, committed, and monogamous relationship between two people. It’s not all about sex people. Sex is just a part of the relationship. If you think about it, biblically speaking, sex was supposed to be for the sole purpose of procreation. But let’s be honest, man realized the enjoyment and did it whether or not there was a plan for children. So, things changed regarding the act. If you want to believe that marriage is only defined as the union between one man and one woman, then you better follow the original plan for sex and only do it when you’re ready to have kids. That would be interesting.

Ok, so this is a bit longer than I planned; I did want to get into the whole religious freedom/religious liberty thing. That will just have to wait until next time.

Nelson, T. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible. Nashville.

Religious Liberty & Gay Marriage; Time To Ruffle Some Feathers

Recently I have noticed and read posts on social media about the Supreme Court case regarding gay marriage. There is apparently some concern about religious liberty and concern for non-profit colleges should there be favor for gay marriage.  There are a few things I would like to share and point out. It is of no surprise that I am all for marriage equality; that’s right, marriage equality. There is no such thing as gay marriage just like there’s no such thing as gay money; which, by the way, no one has a problem taking. So, it would come as no surprise that I would be blogging about this. Let’s tackle first the concern about non-profit businesses, colleges, and churches.

I will not pretend to understand tax exemption in its entirety. I do know that exemptions are much like tax deductions and paying less [or no] taxes depending on the organizations and the donors. What I will say is this; I do not believe that churches should be tax exempt, but should pay taxes like everyone else. Why do I say that? Because it is biblically sound; because I am going by what Jesus said in response to the Pharisees when they asked about paying taxes. Jesus answered first with a question while holding a denarius in His hand and the question was “whose image and inscription is this?” The answer was Caesar. Then Jesus said “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Nelson, 1997, pp. Matthew 22:20-22). I don’t think it can be made any clearer that taxes must be paid; period. He did not give a pass to anyone. You hypocrites; you dare to use the Bible and God’s word [incorrectly by the way] to condemn the union of two people of the same gender, yet you blatantly disregard what our Lord said regarding the payment of taxes. Shame on you.

The next issue I want to touch on is Religious Liberty; what is it; what does it mean? How about we break it down a bit just so that there’s no confusion; by definition, liberty is basically having the freedom of choice to act or speak without restraint (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2015). According to Article 18(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights, “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, and teaching”. The First Amendment reads “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…………”. What does that mean? It means that the government cannot set up a single religion for all people to worship alike. In other words, it is unconstitutional for the government to set up a single religion that we all must follow. We have the freedom, the right, to choose.

With that said, religion is not a business or a college. Religion is about a relationship with God through the means of worship, trust, belief, and faith in God. If you want to run a business then run a business; your faith has nothing to do with it. If you can’t or won’t handle the fact that you have to pay taxes according to God, or that your faith has nothing to do with baking a cake, then you have some issues. Personally, if you won’t bake me a cake for my wedding I would just go elsewhere, but that’s me; I pick and choose my battles and I understand and accept that not everyone would do the same as me. The fact of the matter is that your business has nothing to do with worship or with God. If you won’t follow all that God has said, then don’t bother cherry picking the bible for that which suits you or is financially convenient for you.

So, this is the first part of my rant. I will have the other half shortly because no, I am not done yet. There’s still the whole “Definition of Marriage” crap that gets thrown around as if the correct definition is being given. I also want to touch a little more on religious liberty according to the intent of the founding fathers. It’s a hoot.

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2015). Retrieved from www.merriam-webster.com

Nelson, T. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible. Nashville.

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Jesus). What does it mean to be pure in heart? I believe that Jesus wants for us to have the ability to love as He loves; with no strings attached and with no reservation or exceptions. A person with a pure heart will love his neighbor, his family, his friends, and even his enemy. How can we love our enemy when we have feelings of hate, anger, bitterness, disgust, or any other fitting description of how we feel about our enemies? When we are asked to love as He loves, it’s not about a feeling but is about an action. We are to put action in our love for others. We do this by helping those who are need and yes, we have to include our enemy. Pray for our enemies, help our enemies when they need help; give of ourselves to our enemies the same way we would our loved ones; the same way Jesus does. Practice forgiveness of others and allow the love of our Father through Jesus flow through us.

              To be pure at heart means to have full faith and confidence in the promises of God without reservation; to be like a child who has that ability to love, to believe and to accept without a second thought. Jesus wants us to change our way of thinking, our way of loving, and our way of believing. Jesus said that “unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (p. Matthew 18). We know we can’t physically change into a child, but we can change the direction of our spirit and our mind from the things in our lives that do not match up with the things of God; with the teaching of Jesus and to the things that are of God and the teaching of Jesus. How do we do that? Trust in the One who created us in His image and His likeness. Redirection is always difficult but is necessary if we are to be pure in heart because I know that for me, I want into the kingdom and I want to see God. Be happy in knowing that if you are pure in heart; loving others, forgiving, showing mercy toward others, accepting God’s word through the life and ministry of Jesus, you will see God.

 

Jesus. (n.d.). The Beattitudes. In Matthew, The Nelson Study Bible NKJV (p. 1583).

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2015). Retrieved from www.merriam-webster.com

Nelson, T. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible. Nashville.

Blessed Are The Merciful

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Jesus). As followers of Jesus, again, we are to follow and obey His teachings and His commandments. We are to always strive to live our lives the way He wants us to; the way He lived His life while on this earth. Jesus IS the model of mercy. Jesus taught about mercy in the parable of the unforgiving servant (pp. Matthew 18:23-25); He had shown mercy to the woman caught in adultery (pp. John 8:1-11); and He displayed the ultimate act of love and mercy through the act of forgiveness when He bore our sins us on the cross.

What is the difference between mercy and forgiveness and is there a difference? By definition, mercy is having compassion for or showing forbearance to an offender (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2015). Because of that compassion, we can then show that mercy by acting on it; and acting on it means forgiving the offender; the act of forgiveness offers absolution; a pardon. Paul teaches that the wages of sin is death (p. Romans 6:23); he also teaches in chapter 3 that we are all fall short of God’s glory; we all sin (Nelson, 1997). In order to show mercy we must be willing to forgive. We have to be willing to let the offense go without retribution on our part and trust that God will deal with the offense and the offender at His time. We have to remember that we do sin; every single human being on this earth regardless of race, ethnicity, religious background, sexual orientation, etc. We were all offered mercy through the forgiveness of our sins because Jesus took that penalty for us. Remember that the wages of sin is death. Jesus paid that price for each and every one of us. Be happy to show mercy because you will receive mercy.

Now, I get that not everyone can accept this as truth; I won’t judge. But let me say this, common sense says that a tree does make noise when it falls regardless of whether or not you are there to hear it or see it; barking comes out of the mouth of dogs thousands of miles away whether we hear it or not. God is real and His love, mercy, forgiveness, and offer of eternal life are also real whether you believe it or not. Be blessed.

 

Jesus. (n.d.). The Beattitudes. In Matthew, The Nelson Study Bible NKJV (p. 1583).

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2015). Retrieved from www.merriam-webster.com

Nelson, T. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible. Nashville.

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Jesus). I don't believe that Jesus is talking about a righteousness portrayed by the Pharisees or one who is smug or holds his nose up so high he gets a nose bleed. No, I believe the righteousness spoken of here is about being in right standing before God; a person of ethical and moral standing according to God’s Word. The hunger and thirst spoken of is not the same as being hungry for a burger or thirsty for a shake as these are about the physical part of us. I believe that Jesus is speaking about a spiritual hunger and a spiritual thirst. Knowing that I am not perfect and I will never meet total righteousness, I can still remain steadfast in seeking and understanding God’s Word. When I thirst or hunger for righteousness, I am not looking for man’s approval of me; I am looking for God’s approval. If you earnestly seek God, continuously talk to Him and make it your desire to know Him more, then you’re on the road to righteousness.

Jesus. (n.d.). The Beattitudes. In Matthew, The Nelson Study Bible NKJV (p. 1583).

Nelson, T. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible. Nashville.

Blessed Are The Meek

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Jesus). As Christians we are called to be like Jesus; to follow His teachings and to go to all the earth sharing the gospel of The Christ as He had commissioned His disciples to do in the book of Matthew, chapter 28 and verse 19 (Nelson, 1997). Do not be confused as some have been. Jesus did not say to be a god or to be Him. During His three years of ministry on earth He consistently said “follow me”. Following Him, His teaching, and His commandments is what a follower of The Christ does; this is why we are called Christians.

One of many qualities that Jesus has is that He is meek. He is humble and gentle; and He calls for us to have this same quality; among others. Some may believe that being meek is the same thing as being weak; “turn the other cheek” blah, blah, blah. No; that is not at all what it means. Think of it this way; it’s about being patient with others, being kind and gentle. It’s about being compassionate and being humble. There is nothing weak about any of this. And, for the record, the whole “turn the other cheek” statement is not about being a doormat or a punching-bag; it’s simply about walking away and about forgiveness. Blessed are those who show kindness, who are humble, and who are gentle; that’s what I believe He is saying.

“For they shall inherit the earth”. I have found that many times the word “earth” can also mean land. Considering the fact that we have already inherited the earth and were given dominion over it from the time of creation, I would think it safe to believe that He speaks of His kingdom. There are many mysteries about what Jesus has spoken of and the kingdom is one of the mysteries. Personally, as I continue to study His word, I do believe that the kingdom can be twofold; it can be within us as Christ lives in us and He is the kingdom. I also believe that the kingdom is that which will be revealed at the second coming.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”. Be kind, be gentle, humble yourself in the sight of God, and be patient, for the kingdom is within reach.

Jesus. (n.d.). The Beattitudes. In Matthew, The Nelson Study Bible NKJV (p. 1583).

Nelson, T. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible. Nashville.