"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34) Today, many are remembering the terror attacks of ten years ago. It was a horrific day and one that is not easy to forget for those of us who were old enough to understand. Many people died that day - souls who went on to their reward. The saddest part to me that most of those souls - both the "innocent" and the terrorists - went on to an eternal punishment. Jesus gave His life for each of those souls. As Christians we have a responsibility to teach others about Him - both through our righteous example and through our teaching. God reminds us that it is righteousness that makes a nation great. Oh, let it be our prayer may we be so!
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“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17) 1 John is one of my favorite books and this section is one of my favorites in the entire Bible. These verses hit me at a time when I was trying to hold on to some physical things. Someone encouraged me to give them up, but I simply would not. Until I read this verse. These are powerful words! If we love the world and the things of the world, then the Father is not in us. If He's not in us then we have no hope. We will burn with the things of this world and the others that love those things. Let's not be that way, but focus our eyes higher! “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
"When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." Psalms 63:6
Is it too late to think about God and His Word? The Psalmist doesn't think so. Isn't it wonderful that we can think about God and His Word any time day or night. We can pray to Him and never worry about it being too late at night or too early in the morning. You don't have to worry about waking Him up, in fact, Jesus spent the night praying to His Father. I must admit that I have never done that. "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." Luke 6:12 Do you want to memorize scripture with your kids, but have a hard time finding the time? Do you find they learn well by singing song? Most children I know learn the books of the Bible with singing, so why not scripture as well? Hannah's Hundred was born through this need to help little children learn the Word. These songs are great! Arranged and sung beautifully by the Colley family - a cappella of course - these are wonderful to 'pop' into the CD player in the van on even short trips or while fixing supper. You'll be amazed how these songs work their way into little hearts! Not long after listening, my son began to whisper the entire verse to me when just a part was mentioned in a sermon. I find the verses spilling out of me during ladies Bible classes or teaching teens or children as well. Each CD focuses on a different set of 100 songs. If you'd like, you may request a list of the scriptures in each CD, from the Colley's, so that you can have a paper copy of them. They are so easy to sing along with! Even the least of the musically inclined can join along fairly quickly. Number 4 is probably my favorite! It takes you through the entire book of James! Our family started this and made it through the first chapter before life took us other directions. It is my plan to return and finish one day. These CDs are such a blessing! No home striving for heaven would be complete without them! You can find them at the Colley's website, Colley Books.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-27) When discussing these verses, the focus seems to always be on the relationship between husbands and wives, but let's think in a different direction for a moment. I believe Paul here is talking about husbands and wives, but I think he's making another point here as well. Notice that for 2 verses after he mentions husbands and wives he goes on to talk about the relationship between Christ and the church. What does this passage speak about our relationship to the church? We are supposed to imitate the actions of Christ, so we should take on the same attitude of Christ as well. This means we should love the church and her members enough to die for her or them!?! 1John 3:16 says, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Most people instead have an attitude of griping about our brothers and sisters. Let's instead have an attitude of love for one another as we strive for heaven! I Love Thy Church, O Lord
Timothy Dwight, 1800, alt. Williams' Psalmody, 1770 I love Thy Church, O Lord, The house of Thine abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved with His own precious blood. I love Thy Church, O God; Her walls before Thee stand Dear as the apple of Thine eye, and graven on Thy hand For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend; Her sweet communion, solemn vows, her hymns of love and praise. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heav'nly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise. Sure as Thy truth shall last, to Zion shall be giv'n The brightest glories earth can yield, and brighter bliss from heav'n. "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife." Proverbs 21:9
"It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman." Proverbs 21:19 "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife." Proverbs 25:24 "A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike" Proverbs 27:15 I've heard preachers say that while all the Bible says is true and worthy of our diligent consideration, when something is repeated twice, we should pay special attention to that thing that's been stressed. Here in the book of Proverbs we find a warning that the Holy Spirit saw fit to reiterate not just twice, but four times (twice verbatim). He certainly means for us to stop and take heed of this warning! But, because God never tells us what not to emulate without then telling us what we should emulate, He gives us the portrait of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. We may attain peace in our homes by striving toward that character rather than the one of the quarrelsome wife. "She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Proverbs 31:27-29 (ESV) -CA "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, For this is man's all." Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NKJV)
Obedience to God's word is not just some obligation to be fulfilled; it is the Christian's all. The King James version of this same verse says that it is the whole of man (disregarding the supplied word duty after whole). Furthermore, Deuteronomy 32:49 says this about keeping God's law; "For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life (...)" If ever I get so caught up in my earthly obligations that worship, study, and prayer begin to feel...well, just like any other obligations, I remember these verses and pray for God to restore my focus and zeal. He requires and deserves my all, and the effort is far from futile! "(...) Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10 -CA Recently, I learned how to cook a whole chicken and use the inedible pieces to make a broth. I admit I knew how to do this before, but I didn't want to get my hands into the chicken pieces. I've learned, however, the health benefits to doing so. Often times the wisdom of a thing makes it more appealing.
In the process, I separate the meat into one bowl and the inedible parts into another. As I was doing this the other day, I was thinking of the verses in the Bible that tell us to examine things in our lives and keep the good and get rid of the bad. Whatever we surround ourselves with, that is what gets into our heart. We should constantly review the activities in our lives to make sure they are things that will help us focus on what is most important in our lives: God and His Word. Some time ago, my husband and I decided not to watch "R" rated moves. Even if some of the offensive material could be screened out, the theme of those movies is generally worldly in nature. Sometimes the most dangerous things are not the overtly sinful actions, but the subtle nudges to accept sinful attitudes. Recently, we've made the decision to cut out any TV that is not wholesome and helpful to our spiritual lives. This means we have chosen to watch virtually nothing that comes from Hollywood. I once heard an excellent story that helps us understand this point. A child wanted to go to the theater to watch a movie that her parents had deemed inappropriate. The child argued that there were only a few bad words and one bad scene. In an effort to teach the child the concept, the father said he was going to make some brownies. The child became excited and couldn't wait for the delicious brownies. Then the father announced that he was going to get a scoop of dirt and add to the mix. "Just a little," he told his child. His child decided that she didn't want to eat the brownies or go to the movies. What you choose to allow into your life depends on your study of the word of God. It is our guide for life (2 Peter 1:3-4). Unfortunately, most of the time we think we will just eat the good part of the brownie that is around the dirt without eating the dirt. It just won't work.Today, I have found some scriptures for you on this topic. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalms 51:10) "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." (1 Corinthians 5:7) "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16) "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8) --How much of what we call entertainment fits those criteria? Our congregation is completing a Fishers of Men training class today. This is really a great class and if you can get one going where you are, DO IT!
"Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him." (Mark 1:16-18) Are you letting Him make you to become a fisher of men? "'But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning-- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.'" (Mark 13:32-37)
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." (2 Peter 3:10) "Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you." (Revelation 3:2-3) This section in Revelation is not referring to the final judgement, but a warning to the judgement coming upon this church. However, we can learn something about the judgement from this verse. |