Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Amazing video from a woman of faith
This is amazing. This woman's husband was murdered by four people who answered an ad posted on Criagslist. The people showed up under the pretense of buying a ring. They tied up the family and ended up killing her husband.
Watch the video, what happens next is absolutely incredible.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Taming your tongue
James 3:1-12
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
2 For we all stumble in many ways If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;
10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
So quickly we will say a harsh word or participate in gossip without ever thinking about the consequences. It never ceases to amaze me how someone who will gossip about everyone will suddenly become indignant when they find out they are the subject of the latest gossip.
In this book, James, the half brother of Jesus, goes to great lengths to warn us of the damage that can be caused by the tongue. Although being small it can cause great damage like a small fire can burn down an entire forest, or can be used to define who we are like a small rudder can direct an entire ship.
As you go about your day, before engaging in conversation, ask yourself if this is a conversation you should be in. Is what I'm saying going to build up or tear down? Am I going to use my words as a blessing or a curse?
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
2 For we all stumble in many ways If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;
10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
So quickly we will say a harsh word or participate in gossip without ever thinking about the consequences. It never ceases to amaze me how someone who will gossip about everyone will suddenly become indignant when they find out they are the subject of the latest gossip.
In this book, James, the half brother of Jesus, goes to great lengths to warn us of the damage that can be caused by the tongue. Although being small it can cause great damage like a small fire can burn down an entire forest, or can be used to define who we are like a small rudder can direct an entire ship.
As you go about your day, before engaging in conversation, ask yourself if this is a conversation you should be in. Is what I'm saying going to build up or tear down? Am I going to use my words as a blessing or a curse?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Trust in the Lord
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Too often we fail to trust the Lord when we are having difficulties. However, this is when the Lord does His best work. When we need help the most, God hears us. When we humble ourselves and ask God to lead our life, He is sure to listen. When we listen to Him, He leads us in the right direction.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Too often we fail to trust the Lord when we are having difficulties. However, this is when the Lord does His best work. When we need help the most, God hears us. When we humble ourselves and ask God to lead our life, He is sure to listen. When we listen to Him, He leads us in the right direction.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
How Good is Good Enough?
Recently at one of my Bible studies, one of the people brought up the question of someone living a good life without putting faith in Jesus entering Heaven. Unfortunately in this day of Oprahanity, it is not an uncommon question. After all, shouldn't all "good" people go to Heaven no matter what they believe?
This is typical of man's pride and self image. Whenever someone is asked if they consider themselves to be a good person, the answer is almost always "yes". This is because we will compare ourselves to someone we consider to be an evil person in order to see ourselves in the best light possible. After all, who doesn't look good next to the murderer or thief you just read about in this morning's paper?
This is typical of man's pride and self image. Whenever someone is asked if they consider themselves to be a good person, the answer is almost always "yes". This is because we will compare ourselves to someone we consider to be an evil person in order to see ourselves in the best light possible. After all, who doesn't look good next to the murderer or thief you just read about in this morning's paper?
Friday, March 5, 2010
Perseverence
Galatians 6:7-10 (NIV)
Have you ever been mocked or belittled for your beliefs? Often times people feel free to mock our faith or point out things we have done in the past as proof that we are not in the family of God. This may come from people we have known our whole life or even from family. Remember the ones who will do the most mocking are the ones who are having the light shone on them the brightest.
Keep up the witness, saints. Keep sowing to please the Holy Spirit. Persevere and we will reap a harvest beyond our wildest dreams. Imagine the feeling you will have when one day you meet the person you reached out to with kind words, or the person you left a Bible tract with in Heaven.
"7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Have you ever been mocked or belittled for your beliefs? Often times people feel free to mock our faith or point out things we have done in the past as proof that we are not in the family of God. This may come from people we have known our whole life or even from family. Remember the ones who will do the most mocking are the ones who are having the light shone on them the brightest.
Keep up the witness, saints. Keep sowing to please the Holy Spirit. Persevere and we will reap a harvest beyond our wildest dreams. Imagine the feeling you will have when one day you meet the person you reached out to with kind words, or the person you left a Bible tract with in Heaven.
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