Ten Secrets To A Victorious Life

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Ten secrets to a victorious life
by Joel Rosenberg Sunday, November 16th, 2008

Notes taken from Joel's sermon in Jerusalem click here

1) The Secret of Life is to Glorify God

1 Corinthians 10 (Amplified Bible)
31 So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.

1 Corinthians 6
20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

Matthew 5
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

John 17
4 I have glorified You down here on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do.

Glorify=Pleasing

2 Corinthians 5
9 Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him.
10 For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing].

1 Thessalonians 4
1 FURTHERMORE, BRETHREN, we beg and admonish you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that [you follow the instructions which] you learned from us about how you ought to walk so as to please and gratify God, as indeed you are doing, [and] that you do so even more and more abundantly [attaining yet greater perfection in living this life].

Hebrews 11
6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Hebrews 13
20 Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament),
21 Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).

Ephesians 5
8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].
9 For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.

Romans 12
1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

2) The Secret of Glorifying God is Bearing Much Fruit

John 15
8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

John 15
16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.

Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law that can bring a charge].
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.
25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

Colossians 1
5 Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up (reserved and waiting) for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel,
6 Which has come to you. Indeed, in the whole world [that Gospel] is bearing fruit and still is growing [by its own inherent power], even as it has done among yourselves ever since the day you first heard and came to know and understand the grace of God in truth. [You came to know the grace or undeserved favor of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with it.]

Romans 1
13 I want you to know, brethren, that many times I have planned and intended to come to you, though thus far I have been hindered and prevented, in order that I might have some fruit (some result of my labors) among you, as I have among the rest of the Gentiles.

Colossians 1
10 That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].

3) The Secret of Bearing Much Fruit is Abiding In Me

John 15
2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].
4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

Slow our eyes down and walk with the Father.

4) The Secret of Abiding In Me is Obeying

John 14
22 Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the world?
23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.

5) The Secret of Obeying is Loving God

John 14
21 The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]

Want to know the Father intimately, love Him.

John 14
15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.

Matthew 22
37 And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).
38 This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.
39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.
40 These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

6) The Secret of Loving God is Knowing Him

John 17
3 And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.
7 Now [at last] they know and understand that all You have given Me belongs to You [is really and truly Yours].

If you know Him, how can you not love Him.

John 17
25 O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has failed to recognize You and has never acknowledged You, I have known You [continually]; and these men understand and know that You have sent Me.
26 I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them.

Heart and soul knowledge

John 14
7 If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him.

If you know Me, you will know Him

Philippians 3
8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),
9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.
10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

Jeremiah 9
23 Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise and skillful person glory and boast in his wisdom and skill; let not the mighty and powerful person glory and boast in his strength and power; let not the person who is rich [in physical gratification and earthly wealth] glory and boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] riches;
24 But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.

7) The Secret of Knowing Him is Meditating

Psalm 77
11 I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will [earnestly] remember the wonders [You performed for our fathers] of old.
12 I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary [in holiness, away from sin and guilt]. Who is a great God like our God?
14 You are the God Who does wonders; You have demonstrated Your power among the peoples.
15 You have with Your [mighty] arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Psalm 63
6 When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.
7 For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.
8 My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.

Slow down and meditate on God's word

Psalm 104
34 May my meditation be sweet to Him; as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord.

This is how we get to know Him better.

8) The Secret of Meditating is Hungering and Thirsting On God

Psalm 63
1 O GOD, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is.
2 So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.
4 So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalm 42
1 AS THE hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.
2 My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
Matthew 5
6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

Craving God, God will meet this need

9) The Secret of Hungering is Desire

Psalm 37
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

2 Timothy 3
12 Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].

Mark 8
34 And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me].
35 For whoever wants to save his [higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it [his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God].
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [in the eternal kingdom of God]?

Psalm 51
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You.

Mark 9
17 And one of the throng replied to Him, Teacher, I brought my son to You, for he has a dumb spirit.
18 And wherever it lays hold of him [so as to make him its own], it dashes him down and convulses him, and he foams [at the mouth] and grinds his teeth, and he [[i]falls into a motionless stupor and] is wasting away. And I asked Your disciples to drive it out, and they were not able [to do it].
19 And He answered them, O unbelieving generation [without any faith]! How long [j]shall I [have to do] with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.
20 So they brought [the boy] to Him, and when the spirit saw Him, at once it completely convulsed the boy, and he fell to the ground and kept rolling about, foaming [at the mouth].
21 And [Jesus] asked his father, How long has he had this? And he answered, From the time he was a little boy.
22 And it has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, do have pity on us and help us.
23 And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!
24 At once the father of the boy gave [an eager, piercing, inarticulate] cry with tears, and he said, Lord, I believe! [Constantly] help my weakness of faith!
25 But when Jesus noticed that a crowd [of people] came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you to come out of him and never go into him again.
26 And after giving a [hoarse, clamoring, fear-stricken] shriek of anguish and convulsing him terribly, it came out; and the boy lay [pale and motionless] like a corpse, so that many of them said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took [a strong grip of] his hand and began lifting him up, and he stood.

Desire is a descision of the will, wanting to...

10) The Secret of Desire is Prayer

Matthew 7
7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?
11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

1 Thessalonians 5
17 Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];

Philippians 4
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
7 And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Luke 11
1 THEN HE was praying in a certain place; and when He stopped, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, [just] as John taught his disciples.

May the Lord draw you to Him.

Conviction vs Preference

All beliefs in America fall under one of two category's, Conviction or preference.

Only convictions are protected under the Constitution, not preference. Convictions strengthen under pressure, convictions are non negotiable. If you are willing to give something up under pressure, it is a preference.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Supreme Court Case 1972
A Landmark First Amendment Case on Free Practice of Religion
Nov 6, 2009 Thomas Wyatt

Wisconsin v. Yoder Upheld Free Practice - Supreme Court US The First Amendment of the United States allows citizens to employ free practice of religion, which is not to be interfered with by government. This case upheld that.

One of the fundamental provisions of the United States Constitution throughout the nation's history has been its support for basic freedoms and liberties. Free practice of religion is specifically extended to citizens in the Constitution's First Amendment, and when a particular mandate contradicted the religious traditions of the Amish, free practice prevailed in the Wisconsin v. Yoder Supreme Court case in 1972. This was one of the landmark Supreme Court cases in American history.

Background of Landmark Supreme Court Case Wisconsin v. Yoder, 1972

Three students who had attended school until the end of eighth grade in New Glarus, Wisconsin were removed from school before ninth grade by their parents, because, according the Amish traditions of the students' families, schooling was no longer necessary after junior high school, and children were to learn traditional Amish ways at home.

However, there was a Wisconsin law in place at the time that required children to remain in school until at least age 16. Keeping their children in school contradicted the religious practice and cultural traditions of the three's parents, so a situation where religion and state law were combating one another was formed.

Wisconsin v. Yoder Supreme Court Case Proceedings and Ruling in 1972
One of the fathers (Jonas Yoder) of one of the students who stopped attending school before age 16 represented the Amish community and its traditions in the court case which ensued. The Supreme Court, which determines cases based on constitutionality, ruled in a unanimous decision that Wisconsin's compulsory education law was overruled by the free exercise of religion clause in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states that federal and state mandates cannot get in the way of any citizen's free practice of religion.

Significance of Wisconsin v. Yoder

The ruling in this case upheld the free practice of religion clause in the First Amendment. Up until that point, some had been unfairly compelled to break religious practice and tradition for state and federal purposes, and this case clearly stated the sovereignty of free practice over that of federal and state mandates. This case is a landmark First Amendment case that upheld free practice of religion.

This was one of the landmark Supreme Court cases in the history of the United States, which emphasized the importance of a constitutional liberty that had been previously undermined and overlooked. Other important cases on the same subject of free exercise are Sherbert v. Verner (1963), and Employment Division v. Smith (1990), which both established the bounds of the freedom of religious practice, and also the limits of the government's intervention in religious affairs.

Read more at Suite101: Wisconsin v. Yoder Supreme Court Case 1972: A Landmark First Amendment Case on Free Practice of Religion http://www.suite101.com/content/wisconsin-v-yoder-supreme-court-case-1972-a166611#ixzz17MGIdaaF

To Tell The Truth

How do you know what is truth and what is a lie?

Through Paul's first letter chapter two, to the Christians in Corinth, Paul teaches us not to put our faith in human wisdom or philosophy, but in the power of God. He wrires that no one discerns the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Since the Holy Spirit knows the secret counsel of God, it is a vital necessity for us to know how to hear what He wants to say to us. The Holy Spirit helps us realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts of divine favor and blessing that God bestows on us. Human wisdom does not teach us this truth; it comes from the Holy Spirit, Who gives us the mind of Christ.

Corinth, a wealthy city on the Mediterranean Sea, where people from various cultures and religions often converged. Their diverse backgrounds and religious experiences often caused problems in the church and created a need for Paul to write this letter.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 (AMP)
AS FOR myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom; for I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.

And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you.
And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.

Yet when we are among the full-grown (spiritually mature Christians who are ripe in understanding), we do impart a [higher] wisdom (the knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden); but it is indeed not a wisdom of this present age or of this world nor of the leaders and rulers of this age, who are being brought to nothing and are doomed to pass away.
But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God—[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence].

None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.
But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed].

Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny].
For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit].

But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

Open Society as I see it (draft)

Open Society, New World Order, World Governance and many other labels all originate from the same mindset.
Change, something new, something different because what we have is not working.
The generation gap is were change originates.
Our parents or government or society, what has been and is in place expects youth to conform or just get in the program.

What program, the current one that makes the rich richer and poor poor'er.
The program were older generations have left the world trashed, diseased, at war with each other, corrupt, immoral, were your not making it if you don't have a good job, a credit card, house, nice car or two, and status?
Where most people that actually have a job have to work a minimum wage or near it or have to work two jobs or have a two income household, that society, that program?
The one where everyone is two paychecks away from bankruptcy yet they see management and politicians raking in the dough off the backs of the impoverished people, their labor and their taxes?

Look at Europe, they are trying to change to a single economic system, one united europe like uniting our state government and its all falling down on the people. Leave the states alone for one thing, stop trying to control them as a one government system.

Yes, there must be change but at what cost. Let the current system collapse and start over with another crappy idea of society? Were does it end, what can be done to make life livable. Not just the few well off but the rest of society.

Open Society on a round about way is how the world of Star Trek lives.
No money needed, no internal struggles or wars, everyone fed and encouraged to learn new things, everything free were everyone in society strives to help each other and be educated to contributing to the whole. No God, all government.
This is fiction, Science fiction, not plausible in this world full of selfish corrupt hearts.

I can see the next generation changing the world, if there is one left for them to change. Will it be called revolution or evolution?
Look at history, change seems to work as an idea but never sticks because of corruption and power.
I believe our forefathers had the best idea, God first, then we the people.
The Israelites walked the desert for forty years looking for a new society away from slavery, did it work? No, why? They wanted a human king to follow, not their God in heaven; after all He did for them.

Every time we turn away from the creator, God and His direction, we fail.
I truly believe that is the answer that will never come to this corrupt world, that being a return to God's direction, making Him our king. Loving God, loving each other before anything else, most important behavior and heart.

Government is not the answer, it is the problem. We do not need to become Wiccans or "Mother Earth" Gaia worshipers or anything else, just tear down this tower of Babel we are building and return to our living God, The Creator and Savior and Comforter. Nothing else will work, but try if you must.



Turn your eyes uppom Jesus, put all of your troubles and worries in Him, and the things of this world will become strangely dim, irrelevant, in the Light of His glory and Grace.

Sophia n Mom

I Am NOT Obligated

I (Philip) am not obligated to obey God or act right because I am a Christian. I reject legalism and hate what it does to those who just want to be loved and appreciated.

It tears my heart up to see and hear the anger that is stirred up by legalism. Many people push their religion on their children or relatives, those closest to the heart. They come down from their righteousness and judge and condemn the very ones they love, then wonder why. Why do our loved ones reject God saying He does not exist or if they end up in Hell for the way they live so be it. Their heart becomes hard to were it takes a miracle to reach them.

Listen, no one likes living that way, living under guilt or persecution. No, not even from the ones they need the most, it pushes them away.
Stop pushing your righteous crap on me, I am an adult now and can live how I want to.
Sound familiar? I have seen this everywhere my entire life for I also was a victim. It pushed me away from God for many years.

Hey you, up there in that pulpit, stop preaching the bad news and start sharing the good news of grace, please, I plead with you. Time is running out.

Can you see the tears in my eyes, can you feel my heavy heart or shallow breathing.

May I quote someone special...

In Galatians, Paul addresses and emphasizes a subject that is very important to me and should be to all believers: the grace of God.

Many people tend to approach God through the Law, which simply means doing what is right and obeying the "rules" of Christianity. This is called "legalism."

Galatians teaches us that we approach God through grace—which is simply God's power at work in us, causing us to want to obey Him and enabling us to do so.

Legalism teaches that we obey God out of obligation; grace teaches that we obey out of love. Legalism urges us to "act right" through works of the flesh, while grace enables us to "be right" by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Everyday Life Bible.

Stop trying to change the world through your efforts, you are useless to God that way, counterproductive. Allow His Spirit in you to guide your heart to reach out to those we love. Not in your way but Jesus loving way.

Are you reading your bible? You say yes, well maybe your not listening to your inner voice. Your too proud or set in your religious ways to hear.

Tell them they are not obligated to do anything, including love you, if they choose not to.

Put your heart in your Heavenly Fathers hands and leave the consequence up to Him, for the love of God and your children.

Damascus, Heap of Ruins

Isaiah 17:1-2 (AMP)
1 THE MOURNFUL, inspired prediction (a burden to be lifted up) concerning Damascus [capital of Syria, and Israel’s bulwark against Assyria]. Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins.
2 The cities of Aroer [east of the Jordan] are forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

If Hezbollah takes over Lebanon and or if Hezbollah launches it's new missile stockpile towards Israel cities, Damascus will become a heap of ruins.

Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided to release the minutes of the deliberations on an air blitz against Damascus - held in Jerusalem before and during the Yom Kippur War 37 years ago - as a strong warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad, debkafile's military and intelligence sources reveal. Then, a decision to take out Damascus to halt the Syrian offensive was overruled. This time could be different: Bashar Assad regime's own centers of power could be at risk if Syria and Hizballah go through with their plan to overpower Beirut and topple Saad Hariri's sovereign government.

Full story, click here

Added note: 'My Enemy's Enemy Is My Friend'

In one of the largest arms deals ever, the Obama administration is authorizing the sale of more than $60 billion in fighter jets, attack helicopters and other weaponry and support materials to Saudi Arabia.

A new report in a French newspaper indicates that the Iran-backed Shia Muslim terrorist group Hezbollah now has some 40,000 rockets and missiles in southern Lebanon aimed at Israel in preparation for an apocalpytic war involving the Twelfth Imam.

Soros exposed

Examining Black Loyalty to Democrats

2 Corinthians 13:5 (AMP)
5 Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?

The First Step to Something New

Ready for a new start, a new life?
How about giving this one a try.

First and most important step is your mindset, believe, then your heart will follow, just accept the gift of salvation, absolutely NOTHING ELSE required, just take it as being yours from now on.

Now wait! The first step is easy, but the second step will not be easy because others will judge you tell you all kinds of lies to try and take your gift away but listen, believe it is your gift from the God that loves you and nothing, no one no how will ever take it away from you!
Also you will learn humility, love for others. You will learn to forgive and forget your faults and every one's faults. You will learn patience and endurance, even tolerance. Most of all you will learn all about love, true unconditional love like never before. This learning will come from God's Holy Spirit now living in your heart, just rely, depend, lean and rest in your salvation and let EVERYTHING else up to God, OK?
This new life is all about learning how much God loves you, learning truth.

Your old life, constantly accusing God of injustice, how could he allow such things in this world or why wont he help you or answer your prayers. It puts a wedge between you and God making it impossible to know Him and the truth to everything.

OK, all that is needed is faith,
Romans 10:9-10 (AMP)
9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.

Say it out loud with conviction "Jesus, You are my Lord and Savior, fill me with Your Spirit, make me new. Thank you for Your love".

Now know through faith that it is finished, you are now right with God, because of believing what Jesus did for you. Your on your way to a new walk in life, not because you deserve anything from now on but that from now on, everything is a gift from your heavenly Father, God, because He loves you.

He knew you before you were born, what your name would be, your parents, were and how you were born, for He set it all up beforehand just for you. God has a purpose for your life, always did, He was just waiting patiently for you to come to this place in life.
All the angels in heaven are singing with joy over your new life.

Now fight the fight to stay focused on God's love, do not ever let these religious people put their lies in your mind, they are lost in their religion, pray for them. Learn all you can about Jesus and who He is because He is an image of God and we are also made in His image, were connected, then you will learn to love Him more and more and the problems you have in this world will mean less and less because God has your best interest at heart. Please believe this to be true, until you accept God's Spirit in your heart, you can never understand His true love for you (this is part of His gift to you, knowledge and understanding).

Listen to this, hear these words in your heart, believe them every day from now on, your very character is about to change before your eyes, not from your effort or attempt but because this is part of the gift. We change inside to becoming very strong in our weakness as a product of our Christian walk. Christ Jesus our Lord changes us from the inside out.

Hebrews 13:5 (AMP)
5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

Now that you have God's favor, ask Him to lead you to a bible teaching church were there are others just like you, so you can have God loving friends, believe He will answer your request and rest in Him, knowing He will work it all out for you.

Now you can stop the worry and start enjoying life. We all have our own pace to this beautiful walk with God, but the love that develops is what I wish everyone could experience. God I love the way you love me.

More Than Conquerors

There Is Only One Way To Heaven; A Narrow Sure Path

There are two steps to Christianity.

1. Salvation (born again)


2. The Christian Walk/Transformation

Salvation being that all inclusive work of God on our behalf, whereby we are forgiven: He justifies us, He sanctifies us, He glorifies us, He baptizes us into the Body, He seals us with the Holy Spirit, He fills us with the Holy Spirit.
All this and much more the instant we believe that Jesus died for us as a cursed man, went to Hell in our place and rose up on the third day with the promise that we have a place with Him in heaven.

Then follows the grace walk were we enter into a personal relationship with the Father, His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship.

There is no other way to heaven but by individual faith in the work of the cross.

Many Christians mix the two steps together and live a life of guilt, not sure of their salvation. Many non-believers hear a twisted message that leaves them knowing for a fact that they are not good enough to live a goodie goodie christian life. They aren't worthy or just don't care to be judged as a well behaved christian and called a hypocrite.

So how do you know you're destination ends in heaven? How can you be so sure to were your faith is a fact?

For one, the bible tells us so.

Some Christians say they feel it in their heart, they just know. I suspect it is the Spirit of God in them. On those days when they don't feel it in their heart, their faith grows until the feeling of certainty returns.

Philippians 4:7 (AMP)
7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

I personally know because I have spent my life talking and listening, meditating and hearing His word in me. God is my companion in life, I share everything with Him, good and bad and I believe that He sent Jesus in to my world not to judge me but save me and love me. I love and adore my Lord, in turn He affirms His love for me in countless natural and supernatural ways.

Listen, God longs for, desires our heart, He waits for us to respond to His love; only by our choice, our faith.

How can God Who is a God of love and mercy possibly consign people someday to that awful Lake of Fire?

What more has He done to draw us to His love than sending His only son in our place. How more simple can He make it, believe He desires our free heart; nothing else needed, nothing else but just accept His free gift.

We don't even need to change anything or sign up for service, just accept Him in our heart. Then the Spirit of God changes us from the inside out, His grace, His love.

Here is the sin; this world twists and turns this simple truth from a gift to something complicated. People believe they have to repent or be baptised or speak in tongues and then believe. Yes, maybe before Jesus was resurrected but no more. And it was only for the Jews, all this though shalt not or else stuff does not apply to the Gospel of grace. All this false teaching in churches around the globe make salvation very complicated. The truth shall set you free, the simple truth of salvation. Simple enough for a child, nothing complicated, just believe in your heart.

Jesus Christ will one day say, depart from me, I never knew you.
Not: well, I knew you for a while but then you kind of slid away from me, came back a couple times but I don't really know you now. NO, Jesus told those Pharisees the religious legalistic leaders, I never knew you. They never believed in Him as we do when be are instantly filled with the Spirit of God. Old man gone.

Its the grace walk, after salvation, were our head should be. No more concern over salvation, no confession or penance or back sliding guilt trips needed (unless it helps your walk or a tradition, but only your walk or for tradition). Many Christians (too many) place their focus on loosing their gift, like its going to be taken away and then it must be earned back, ridiculous.

As we take the next step forward out of darkness into eternal light, it is the will of God for us to search Him out and discover His kingdom and righteousness. Meditating on the old and new testament we must learn that the Spirit of God living in us is what changes us, not our works but the works of the Holy Spirit. We mature through spiritual growth to eventually learn to enjoy our relationship with our Heavenly Father, enjoy falling in love with Him more and more every day to were we notice, wow, I am also loving my neighbors and even my enemy's more each day. I feel less fear and more compassion. You may even notice your longing to study the Bible and all of the sudden, church has become a part of who you are.

All Christian doctrine comes from Paul. Paul's writings to the Gentiles (the Church). They are the thirteen books of Romans through Philemon. Although Paul also wrote the book of Hebrews, he wrote it to the Jewish believers who had been saved under the gospel of the kingdom, the teaching of the twelve apostles of the circumcision (Jews). Hebrews was not written to the Gentiles even though it is a beautiful scripture of faith.

It is important to slowly read and understand Paul's writings first, for they relate to grace and the church age we live in today. It is also important to understand that the rest of the Bible was written without the knowledge of the coming gospel of grace but under the gospel of the kingdom. There are many clues in the old gospel of all that has come and is to come from Jesus to the final judgement day. That's why we can see the Son of God and the Spirit of God everywhere throughout the old testament. Jesus is the word of creation.

If we could get in the habit of understanding whom is writing to whom and how it relates to us today, then we would experience less confusion in our walk.

The path to heaven is very narrow, but also very easy and simple, faith plus nothing else, a gift.

Our walk on the other hand goes everywhere our choices take us, right or wrong, were covered by the blood of Jesus regardless of religion or denomination. Reject the hate that is preached and taught by your own parents relatives and friends. The world will know we are Christians by our love not by our hate of others beliefs and lifestyles.

Example: Mormons are non-christian or like the Church of Christ believes that if you aren't baptised you are not saved or Jehovah Witness or Evangelicals will not see heaven because only Catholics are true christian. Gays, mixed race couples, the unclean will not see heaven, if you dress wrong wear make-up listen to the wrong music, an endless list. REJECT THE HATING, only God knows the heart and that is what matters.

Romans 3:24-25 (AMP)
[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

What a joy to walk in grace with our Heavenly Father through the worst this corrupt world brings to the best this beautiful world shares with us.

To God Alone

Romans 12 (The Message)

Place Your Life Before God

1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Can You take me by the hand
Can You use me as I am
Break me into who You want me to be
When the time is finally right
Will You open up my eyes
Show me everything You want me to see
This life is not my own

To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for You
The glory is Yours alone
Yours alone

Take the offering I bring
You want more than what I sing
Can I give You every part of me
Turn these pennies into gold
Take this life I call my own
Until I'm running after Your heart
I'm needing to let go

We will rise, and we will fall
But You remain after all
You're glorious and beautiful
You're beautiful

Positive Thinking

We spend way too much time thinking about sin; our sin and others sin. Are we living a Christ like life, our manner, our dress, our thoughts and actions, are they pleasing to God.
What about those around us.
Are they representing themselves properly in the public eye. What about the music they listen to or the movies they watch, the make up they wear or tattoo's or ear rings that pierce the ear, or the perfume or cologne they wear. How much time do they spend on the Internet or cell phone. Are they drinking or doing drugs, or pornography or beat their dog.
Is it offensive to God, does it give the wrong impression to the non-christian.
We are consumed with sin, constantly watchful when it pops up in us and others.

Life is so much better when things are good and positive. The blood of Christ covers sin, we need not live in a world were everything has to be controlled, were sin has to be kept in check. We can rest in Christ and replace a world of sin with love.

Our sins are covered under grace, the work that was planned at the cross once and for all makes us right with God.

The reason we still feel the pulling influence of sin on us is because of our new character in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit within us convicts us of our righteousness, we are right with God, His saints, His church, we are no longer in sin.

God does not remove the influence of sin, He renews us inside to having a new Christ like character.

We can continue living focused on sin and never mature spiritually, or we can change our mindset to loving our God with all our focus on His love.

We can spend time asking things like, how could a loving God allow these horrors to happen, the negative mindset, or we could change our attitude to positive thinking and ask questions instead like, How could God create such beauty and perfection, like nature or my wife.

The more time we spend away from our focus on sin to spending time on loving God, the more we align our entire existence to His plan for us, to His kingdom and His righteousness.

Believe in Me, then all these things shall be added unto you.

We are covered completely by grace, regardless of how others judge our life. The more time we spend meditating, in communion with God, the greater His love overflows unto others around us, for we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.

If we could learn to receive His love. Think about it, thank Him for it and allow it to reveal our true character. That character that seldom gets angry or yells, is humble and giving and does not boast about how it lives but accepts others way of living, right or wrong. Yes, sides up with people struggling with sin in love not judgement. No more gossip, no more negative opinions, no more hurting other by what we say or how we act. For now that grace covers all our infidelity, all our imperfections, we are free to love.

God can not use us if we are focused on sin, but I guarantee you, God can and will use our love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Just at the right time, He will call us to love, not to judge and gossip. We have such immense power in Christ, maybe we'd be called to witness in a foreign language we don't know, or see something no one else can see, or heal the sick, or feed the masses.
Maybe just to smile at the very perfect time or say the kind word just when God needs us.

We develop spiritual attributes like patience, peace, humility, joy, tolerance, we put others before ourselves, in love.

By aligning our mindset to thinking positive things, we can become aligned with God's purpose and plan for our life. Struggling with sin in ourselves and others keeps us bound to baby food, a slow maturing rate, spiritually. God still loves us regardless of our walk with Him, its still our choice.

Paul asks that we assemble frequently to keep each other accountable to the gospel of grace.
I would love add the scripture references to my words, but it would fill many pages that no one would read. Search out the truth yourself in scripture. We are free from sin, free to approach God as our Father in Heaven and free to spend the rest of our days looking into His eyes, in His arms.

Aligning ourselves with God, also aligns us with scripture. Once He reveals to us His truth about grace and love, we can take that positive mindset and see the absolute beauty in the Old and New Testament.

A positive loving approach to everything rubs off on others, we motivate each other. All we need do is exercise our faith and believe we are free from sin in everything we do.

Life in Christ is a beautiful life, if we allow ourselves to grow and change our mindset.

Sin does not have to be the center of our day, were covered, free from it because of the blood Jesus shed for us. Enjoy the life God planned for us, today.

Precious Jesus (Original)

The Virgin Birth

Fascinating book 'The Chemistry Of The Blood by M. R. DeHaan. M. D. 1943'

This Doctor explains that a pregnant woman contributes not one drop of blood to the child. From conception to birth, the child's blood is its own as designed. The placenta provides nutrition but isolates the blood.
The blood line is passed on by the father for the embrio will never begin to develop blood until the sperm is introduced.

All men are related by the blood of Adam, sinful and polluted blood.
Acts 17:26 All men have a common origin in Adam, blood relatives, whether black or white, Jew or Gentile, pagan or cultured. This blood line carries the sentence of death because the fruit Adam ate caused blood poisoning. So potent was this poison that thousands of years later it is still just as deadly to all.

The breath of God put something in to that beautiful piece of clay that made it come to life, blood.
The introduction of sin affected the blood of man not his body. Flesh can only be called sinful because of the blood that nourishes and sustains it.

Because of the virgin birth, Christ could partake of Adams flesh which is not inherently sinful, but He could not partake of Adam's blood that has been poisoned, cursed with sin.

Jesus was born of a new blood line, what a perfect plan from the very beginning of time.
God created a way for Jesus to be born flesh but isolated from man's blood. A perfect man, God's Son.

God also created a supernatural rebirth or regeneration in the confessed sinner based on the blood of Christ. Just as our human blood fights off infection through white blood cells and prevents disease through antibodies, so does the blood of the lamb work against sin. Our blood system also develops antibodies after disease infects us and stays with us from then on to prevent re-infection.

1 John 3:9 (AMP)

9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

Even after being born again we all too often fall prey to temptation and go down. Through the cleansing blood of Christ we can keep from falling over and over to the same temptation or re-infection. There is power in His blood, supernatural power.

The difference between the sinner and the saint is that the saint hates sin and the sinner is comfortable with it, its in his blood.
God said to Israel and to us, when I see the blood, I will pass over you.
He did not say, when I see your goodness, your morality, your works, your fervent religious worship, your earnestness in trying to keep the Ten Comandments, or observe the golden rule, I will pass over you. No, when I see the blood, I will pass over you.

God went on to not only become human but died as a cursed man to conquer death for all who wish to be free from their inherited curse. He went to hell to take us to heaven, was condemned to justify us, was cast out from the presence of God to make us welcome there. The humble perfect man named Jesus, became the Christ, King over all kings.

As if that weren't enough, we can now approach God directly, without sin, pure and holy if we chose to. We can enter into an incredibly intimate and personal, private relationship with our Creator who has this immense love for us.
A true miracle!

God I love my Lord.

The Naked Gospel (must see)

Stewardship a Way of Life (tithing)

If you give anything to or for God or His purpose because you have to, don't bother, it means nothing to God.
Its not what you give but how you give.
God finds joy in our actions when and only when they come from the heart; actions of love, thanksgiving, joyful charity, faith.
(Isaiah1, Psalms40, Hebrews10)

I used to give from fear because the pulpit taught me that the more I gave the greater God would bless me and that if I missed the opportunity to give, I would miss the blessing. In other words, God would hold back grace.
How ridiculous!
When I did give it was only cash in the plate because I believed it was between God and I.

I was wrong.

The church uses my tithing to set their budget and its tax deductible meaning that what I give is partially given back by the Government.
Should we not claim it as a deduction or pay it back to the church, for it no longer adds up to the perceived obligation of tithing.
Yes, sarcasm.
Even then there were times I missed church or could not give what I didn't have. Then one day the church sent me a letter wanting me to see the elders because I was not giving enough. I left that church and stopped going to church for years after.

I became angry about it because I was really trying my best to give beyond my means. I was not making enough to make ends meet as it was. Now the shame was worse because I was robbing God and felt He was angry with me, the church sure was.

Our church bulletin today says "Many people readily give God credit, but few cheerfully give Him cash", what a slam. Have we totally lost our focus!
If we give cash, how will the church know were giving, what the hell does the church want from us, were doing the best we can. Its a loose loose situation when it comes to the pulpit handing out its shame.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (AMP)

7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].

God never expects us to give something He has not given us first!



Malachi 3:8-10 (AMP)

8 Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.

9 You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

This instruction is dealing with the Jewish people, an earlier dispensation or age. God was dealing with man in a different way than today. The pagans had their kings but the Jews depended on their God in heaven. The Jews Eventually rejected their Lord God and got their wish of a ruling king on earth, one of their greatest sins. So the Lord spoke to them through Samuel of all they would give up for their new king, and he will take the tenth of their seed and harvest and take their sons and daughters to build the machine of war and service to their human king, so be it.

We can still learn from this period in time and see how differently God dealt with man. Malachi 3 still applies today but through love, because of grace. No longer by the same mechanism of threat but love. Many churches ignore this dispensation and work it incorrectly against the grace of God! Everything God did for His people yet they rejected Him in favor of what, taxes?

Demand money from your children every week or else you will curse them for steeling from you. Stop talking with them and stop providing for them if they don't give regardless if they can or can not.
Is this how we should view our heavenly Father? We would never treat our children this way and neither would God our Father.

Crazy thinking, but many Christians live in fear because their pastor teaches them to not only tithe but give beyond tithing, give beyond that tax. Seems like the congregation needs rallied to support the church with a threat of the church extinction or god's wrath. If you give then you receive god's blessing, else...

I have been blessed over and over by supporting the church because I see the good in helping others in need and the message of grace and love can free people from the guilt and shame sin brings. Were loosing our family values generation to generation, children and youth need to learn core values taught in Sunday school. The church people are givers of love, they give their time and sweat to helping others, their family with giving hearts.

There is no need to instill fear. Part of our spiritual character is a giving heart, not because we have to pay a church tax or expect something in return but because it brings such joy to just plain ole give.

The truth is that you don't have to tithe to be blessed but you will be blessed with joy by tithing.

I now understand that the church counts on me paying a set amount every week for it is part of a spending budget, it keeps it operating and salaries paid. Whether I am there or not. We take responsibility for the church and community. There are so many people depending on each other, there is so much good in giving, it brings us together in love and friendship.

2 Corinthians 8:7 (AMP)

7 Now as you abound and excel and are at the front in everything—in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us—[see to it that you come to the front now and] abound and excel in this gracious work [of almsgiving] also.

God provides and you cannot out give God. It seems the more we give, the more He provides. There have been so many times I have emptied my wallet knowing it will be a couple weeks till pay day and feel good about it. Sometimes that is impossible because of family, bills or paying off that evil interest and it should be understood. Give from the heart using common sense.

Making people feel cursed, abandoned by God, just plain guilty for not tithing or giving money is wrong. Some people cant so they are pressured to stay away from church until they can put something in the plate, others just hate the hypocrisy they sense in the well off that like the credit for their giving. I have even heard were there is no place in heaven if you don't give to the ministry and some people actually believe it.
I recently heard someone mention they felt bad about going to church, unable to give, behind on giving, and I've heard the remark, its just an excuse not to go to church.

Praise God that He does not ask us to do His work out of our own will and effort!
God does not expect us to give unless we feel good about it.

Accept God's grace, His undeserved favor, and follow your heart when giving. Don't allow guilt to run your life. God does not need or want what you have, just you as you are.
Try and not allow the offering plate from keeping you away from church; fellowship with your family in Christ Jesus, they need you just as much as you need them.
Don't miss out the opportunity to fellowship with people lovers and God lovers.

I don't have to tithe, I get to tithe.

Can I Be Saved And Not Go To Church?

Absolutely YES! You can be saved and not go to church.
You can be unsaved and go to church.
Church or the people that go to church can not save.

Jesus paid the price for all.
Every ones name is in the Lamb's book of life until they personally reject God's gift of salvation. It is more a rejection than an acceptance. But there comes a time when an individual runs out of time, then their name is blotted out of the book of life.

Revelation 3:5 (KJV)
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Salvation is free, no payment of any sort is needed for Jesus all ready paid the price.
All we need do is accept the free gift in our heart before we die. Believe salvation is free, accept the fact that God wants our love and devotion. No one deserves this gift so no one can brag about receiving it.

I took this right out of the bulletin and insist it is wrong! This makes sense at a certain spiritual level but most people take this at face value and it empowers old covenant Jewish law.

Looking at Hebrews chapter 10, Paul points out to the Jewish Christians, now that we are saved by grace and no longer live by the old covenant law we should not forsake coming together warning, urging, encouraging one another. About what?
About our new covenant law being to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and each other as yourself.
About keeping the new covenant and not returning to the old covenant law that would deny the work of the cross. Jesus shed His blood, paid in full the price to fulfil the Mosaic covenant with the Jewish people and include the rest of humanity ( Gentiles) into a new covenant with God.

Hebrews 10:25-27 (AMP)

25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
26 For if we go on deliberately and willingly sinning after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for [our] sins [no further offering to which to look forward].
27 [There is nothing left for us then] but a kind of awful and fearful prospect and expectation of divine judgment and the fury of burning wrath and indignation which will consume those who put themselves in opposition [to God].

Can't we see what Paul is saying? For if we go on deliberately and willingly SINNING, deliberately and willingly going back to the old testament law, ignoring the truth of grace, opposing God's plan, then there is nothing left but Divine judgement.

Christ Jesus is the only way, there is no second way, if we don't follow this way then were back to square one, death.
The Mosaic law being perfect and holy, gives proof that we are incapable of being right with God. Jesus, through his own sacrifice on the cross fulfilled the Mosaic covenant and made a new covenant with the Jews first, then the rest of the world (loving God, loving each other).

We need to STOP putting doubt in believers hearts by throwing old testament old covenant law at them, please stop doing this for then there will be nothing left but Divine judgement.
We must stop defying the work of the cross, find a better truthful loving way to bring people to church.
Then teach them to walk and live by the law, not in judgement, because it has lost its sting, but because it is right. This way the law no longer leads to death, but life, a righteous life through Jesus Christ.

I love my church, my church family and my pastor. I don't have to go to church, I get to go to church.

Anything but dependence on Christ within us, requires human effort or arming ourselves with the law.
Measuring salvation by the law is SIN, plain and clear, it goes against the redeeming work of the cross.

All For Love

Passing Time

The United States in Biblical Prophesy

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (AMP)

1 BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].
2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.
3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.
4 [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.
5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

You can see it everywhere, so many claimed Christians, they hold a form of piety (true religion) but totally lack the belief in Grace. Just look at the politicians today and the news reports of corruption as never seen before. They twist the truth, having a form of godliness and denying its source of power. Trying to cleanse every form of Christianity in this country and replacing God with government or mother earth. They have progressively turned from revolution to evolution were the ends justify the means.

That is the portrait painted today by bible prophesy.

Reading verses 6-7, Paul describes the exact conditions I experienced working in a factory for 16 years made up of mostly women; some are totally vicious with evil behaviour. They mix lies and gossip to destroy others they hate, they literally want to kill with their words and yet profane to being Christian. They seduce and deceive then quote scripture. There are some that have a Jezabel spirit in them, they try and seduce for personal gain, take advantage of kind hearts, then spread gossip around that ends up destroying character, hurting the entire community. I know, men are not excluded either.

I love working in a factory because I love people and would never turn away from them, a fact.

It only takes a few spoiled apples to ruin the lot.

Everyone I worked with, became my family. Some of my relatives in this family rub each other wrong, but were still family and I absolutely loved working with them all and miss them.

Many Americans are turning from our founding values "IN GOD WE TRUST" to a more progressive social belief. This generation will experience the total destruction of our Republic, just as Paul wrote about so long ago.

Perilous times...