We love Him because He loved us first. 1 John 4:19 The Holy Bible, The New Life Version
This morning Poppa explained to me the similarities between my cat and me.
He enjoys being with me like I enjoy being with Poppa.
When he gets sick I am very concerned and give him the best care possible just like Poppa is concerned when I am mentally or spiritually sick and He does everything He can to cure me.
He is very difficult at times, especially with his food, just like I am difficult at time with Poppa when He is trying to spiritually feed me.
Sometimes he ignores me and wants nothing to do with me just like on very rare occasions I do not want to be with Poppa.
Sometimes he refuses to listen to me when he is doing something that I know will hurt him and then comes crying to me to comfort him when he pays the price just like I do with Poppa when He tries to warn me when I am heading for disaster and I refuse to listen to Him. Then, when it is time to pay the price I go running to Poppa for comfort just like he jumps into my arms and cries when disaster strikes.
I pray I can be almost as good of a care giver to the comfort animals Poppa has blessed us with as He is with me. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah
Prayer: Thank you Jesus Pyrrand God my friend ( John 15:14 ) for blessing me with such a special furry friend and for showing me how I emulate him in our relationship. It is in Your ( my bestest friend ) name I praise You. Amen
May you have a grateful heart towards He who has given so much to you. indeovi vas ( may you live with Jesus in Latin )
Seleh- stop and think about it. This photo and article @ Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah 2023
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it but it may not be sold without authors consent
That is not a beautiful word. It means that the corruption of sin has extended to all aspects of our nature, including our entire being. Because of that corruption there is nothing man can do to merit or influence in any way a saving relationship with a holy God.
The fallen person’s relation to a holy God has been radically affected. Because of the effects of the fall, man’s original relationship with God was broken and our entire nature was polluted. As a result of the Fall of man, no individual can do anything, even religious things, that will merit salvation, or eternal life, in God’s sight. There is nothing an individual can do to influence in a positive way a right relationship with God. No action that man does, no matter how good or religious can gain favor with God for salvation.
We see the depravity of mankind most clearly in the rejection of Jesus Christ in John 1:11. “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”
Spiritual depravity is demonstrated by the willfulness and spiritual blindness of everyone apart from the grace of God. The cross of Jesus Christ is the response of fallen man to the goodness of God (1 Cor. 2:14).
How far did man fall? The Bible tells us that when man fell into sin he fell all the way to the bottom and there he lies hopelessly lost, blind and spiritually dead, unable to help himself until God reaches down by grace, lifts him up and gives him spiritual life through the new birth (Rom. 3:9-18).
Left to ourselves we are not the least bit righteous. Sinful man has no ability to save himself (Jn. 1:13). We are corrupted by sin and in rebellion against God.
The apostle Paul tells us how our sinfulness affects a holy God. “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). The wrath is revealed against us because we are without excuse (vv. 18-32; cf.1:18; 2:5, 8; 3:5; 4:15; 5:9; 9:22; 12:19; 13:4-5).
The reality and terror of the wrath of God is emphasized in both the Old and New Testaments.
The Bible places emphasis on the wrath of God as a strong and settled opposition to all that is evil. This holiness comes from God’s very nature. He is a holy and righteous God.
The wrath of God is that in His character that is in absolute opposition to all that contradicts His holiness.
God does not flare up with red hot anger as human beings do, but His wrath is described in the Bible as a firm, fearful, hatred of all wickedness that builds up and will one day result in eternal condemnation of all who reject His grace and mercy provided through the atoning death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Robert Haldane said, “The wrath of God was revealed when the sentence of death was first pronounced, the earth cursed and man driven out of the earthly paradise, . . but especially by the reign of death throughout the world. It was proclaimed by the curse of the law on every transgression and was intimated in the institution of sacrifice and in all the services of the Mosaic dispensation. . . . The whole creation has become subject to vanity and groans and travails together in pain. . . But above all, the wrath of God was revealed from heaven when the Son of God came down to manifest the divine character, and when that wrath was displayed in His sufferings and death in a manner more awful than by all the tokens God has before given to His displeasure against sin.”
Biblical Christianity is God reaching down to save perishing sinners, not men and women reaching out to Him. Jesus Christ died for those who deserve God’s wrath. His death is fully adequate to cover all our sins and depravity and to reconcile us to God (1 John 1:6-9; Rom. 3:21-26; 5:12-21).
Jesus Christ is our only hope. Be sure and read the label. There is a day coming when men are warned to flee the wrath of God (2 Thess. 1:6-10; 2:11-12; Heb. 10:29-31). The coming of Jesus Christ a second time will be suddenly and unexpectedly. Some will meet Him as their Judge and other as their Savior.
If you have never put your trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life I pray that you will right now. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved today from the wrath of God for all eternity.
SELAH! Pause – reflect- just think of that!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006 Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author’s written consent.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-31 New International Version
Remember the old pirate movies where they look through a spyglass. Is that not the way many people look at conflicts? Through one lens and that lens is their own opinion. They refuse to listen to anybody else. They speak, you listen. You speak, they don’t listen. It is called selective hearing and is the major problem in conflicts whether it is between parents and children (it is just as important for parents to listen to children as it is for children to listen to parents by the way), husbands and wives, or neighbors.
Instead it is important to look though binoculars to see the big picture. We need to sit down with pen and paper and listen to what the other person has to say and write it down. While person A is speaking person B listens without interrupting and is writing down what is said. This is then repeated with person B speaking and person A listening.
Next try to look at how and why the other person feels the way they do.
If you cannot solve the problem between yourselves it is important to get someone who does not take sides and you both trust to mediate between you. You both agree to the mediator’s decision and act upon it. It is one thing to agree to it, it is just as important to act on it.
I have met many people that it was like talking to a wall. They pretended not to hear what I was saying because they didn’t care.
What I have learned is to inform them when they are just as willing to listen as they are to talk, we can continue. Then walk away. I do not give in to them no matter how much they pout like little babies, threaten and whine. Many times that means distancing myself from them. It has cost me many friendships but I am better off without them because they were very self centered and greedy.
Now of course it is different if you are married or it is parents and children living in the same place.
When I was a teacher and a student was naughty I did not scream and yell at them. I would sit them down and talk with them. They knew what they did was wrong. Just be patient with them. Once they admit what they did was wrong then we talk about how they can make it right. After that is settled we work on them making it right. If they were naughty to another student they would apologize to them in class. When they would have a difficult time doing this, teacher was right there softly encouraging them, informing them it was the right thing to do and I know you can do it. Then I would encourage the hurt child to forgive. Teacher would then give them big huggies and inform them he is proud of them. They love and respect teachers like that. I will tell you, the children in my classes were very well behaved. That is why I always got the worst classes. But, in two months there was a complete change.
So too is it necessary for us to do this with each other.
Prayer: Please Jehovah Jireh (The Lord our provider) please provide me to have both eyes open to how to heal any broken relationship in my life. I ask in the name of He who has taught me to have eyes to see Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sweet sunshine of Jesus’ precious love bless you today and every day.
Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything.
My answer was no, but then I thought about it and changed my mind.
If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I’d have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten popcorn in the “good” living room and worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have burnt the pink candle that was sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored.
I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my children and never worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television … and more while watching real life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband which I took for granted.
I would have eaten less cottage cheese and more ice cream.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the Earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for a day.
I would never have bought ANYTHING just because it was practical/wouldn’t show soil/ guaranteed to last a lifetime.
When my child kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now, go get washed up for dinner.”
There would have been more I love yous … more I’m sorrys … more I’m listenings … but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it … look at it and really see it … try it on … live it … exhaust it … and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.”
― Erma Bombeck, Eat Less Cottage Cheese and More Ice Cream: Thoughts on Life from Erma Bombeck
I often hear people say, “I am afraid I don’t know if I have enough faith.” How much faith do you need in order to be saved?
The Bible does not teach that you are justified because of your faith. Faith is not works.
Faith is nothing more than the instrument to receive our salvation. Nowhere in Scripture will you find that we are justified on account of our faith. The Scripture says that we are justified by faith or through faith. Faith is nothing but the channel by which this righteousness of God in Christ becomes ours. It is not our faith that saves us.
What saves us is the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect saving work. It is the death of Christ upon Calvary’s Cross that saves us. It is God putting Christ’s righteousness to our account that saves. Faith is only the channel and the instrument by which His righteousness becomes mine (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:24). The righteousness that saves is entirely Christ’s. My faith is not my righteousness and I must never define or think of faith as righteousness. Faith is nothing but that which connects us to the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness.
The whole emphasis on salvation by faith is clearly on the object of our faith: Jesus Christ. Jesus saves! Faith does not save us. Jesus alone does that.
If we are saved at all it must be through faith in the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
Spurgeon once said, “It does not take a strong faith to save you, just faith. The weakness of your faith will not destroy you. A trembling hand may receive a golden gift.”
The object of our faith is the all-important thing (Acts 16:31). Our faith must be focused on Christ Jesus and His saving work on the cross. He died as our substitute. We must trust in Christ to save us.
The righteousness that God has graciously provided becomes ours through simple faith. Ponder over Romans 3:22, 24-25, 26, 28, 30 and observe the emphasis the apostle Paul is making in these verses. Faith will not earn your salvation. If it did then faith would be works and God would owe you something. Faith is essential because only those individuals who put their trust in Christ will be saved.
The apostle Paul wrote, “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe” (v. 22). Sinners are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith” (vv. 24-25a). God did it this way as a demonstration “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (v. 26). You cannot boast if you are saved by grace through faith in Christ, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law” (v. 28). Moreover, “He will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcised through faith” (v. 30).
If you have never done so, will you believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved today? “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
SELAH! Pause – reflect- just think of that!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author’s written consent
Maybe it is age, but I am certain The Holy Spirit has a wonderful sense of humour. He is a marvelous friend who loves to share a laugh with me. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah
Speaking from personal experience, I know Jesus has a wonderful sense of humor and many times laugh my head off at some of the jokes He has played on me. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah
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