Sunday, October 17, 2010

"Outside the Temple"

The Bible recognizes the power of words. God spoke His creation into existence, and the gift of speech is one aspect of man's creation in the image of God (Genesis 2:19-20).

In the revelation of God's law, words as well as actions are assigned moral values. Lying, blasphemy, taking the Lord's name, and cursing are examples of sinful speech forbidden in the Mosaic law.

I want to talk about the use of profanity and how offensive it is.

Profanity is a part of agressive behavior and also a form of bullying. I don't like it and I don't want to be around people who use it. It shows disrespect towards the person who it is directed and also it shows disrespect to God.

What is profanity? the word, "profane" literally means "outside the temple." The term originally identified people or things that were secular as opposed to religious. Profanity is used for shock value in expressing anger and humor. The words often are associated with sexuality or filth.

The New Testament commands believers to be pure in speech by controlling their tongues. "With the tongue, we bless our Lord and Father and with it, we curse men who are made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth comes blessings and curses. James 3:9-10 says "these things should not be this way."

Christians should honor the purpose of speech by using their mouths to praise God and leading others to obey the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ. Every word we speak should be "gracious" and "seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6). We should always ask, "what would Jesus say?"

Christians are called upon to live differently and to act differently than the world of unbelievers. An unbeliever is one who does not believe there is a God or who choses not to follow Christ as Lord and Saviour. That is their choice. God gave man free will. God does not force himself on anyone.

So if profanity is "outside the temple," what is inside the temple? Our bodies are inside the temple as well as our mouth which is part of the body. Our bodies, including our mouth, are the temple of a holy God. God is holy and pure and He expects His creation to be the same way.

The scripture declares "may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14)

Ephesians 4:29 states "do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Peter 3:10 says, "for, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech."

Cursing and using profanity should not be the norm, nor should it be acceptable speech.

Thought for Today: Stay inside the temple, be holy and pure, as God is. You are a part of His creation.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Off The Record!

I should be writing something scriptural, but forgive me. I will try to post something soon. I am just speaking off the record here.

What is the big deal about being skinny? Is it part of being "hot" or sexy? If it is, it is some kind of sick in my opinion.

As badly as I would like to lose a few pounds, I guess I am not in the "hot" or "sexy" generation. Thank goodness for that! Who started this "thin" business; you have to be thin to be accepted. Thank goodness, the Bible says nothing about thinness, but it does say that our bodies are the temple of God. I can't imagine that God would want us to look emaciated to get a man or a husband.

I am sure there a men out there who set this standard for the woman they chose to be their girlfriend or wife. If so, forgot about them! Be healthy, not sickly. There are many people in foreign countries that look emaciated and it is because they can't get food. Americans don't have that problem.

I had the worst experience today at Walmart's. Yes, I am one of those people who occasionally shop there.

I saw a very thin female teenager fall to the ground. There were two older adults with her. At first I thought she was sick because she just looked like she was not going to get up! Then I thought these people had kidnapped this girl and she was weak from them starving her, or maybe she was trying to draw attention to herself and get away this couple. The world is so sick with evil people, you don't know whether you should call for help or just stand there, like I did and look. After the girl got up, she put her arm around the woman like she was familiar with her, but what does that prove? Nothing, the woman could have told her to do that.

I am frightened for young people, the babies, the toddlers who get raped, and parents who don't love their children. You should be frightened also if you have children or teenagers. It is scary out here! Keep your children away from negative influences.

I did not know what to think. She was so frail, less than a size 1. It made me sick! Maybe she was anorexic. I didn't know what to think except that young girl is in trouble!

This obsession with being "thin" needs to stop. She is not the first person I saw this thin. I played tennis with a woman who was thin and claimed she couldn't gain weight. I saw another young woman in Dillard's who stopped to visit someone at the cosmetic counter, saying she just got back from some clinic where she had being treated because she was anorexic. I know an adult women who volunteered at a place where I had once worked; she ate lettuce for lunch all the time. Okay, people, Weight Watchers has a lot of people who have lost weight; there are better ways to be slimmer and healthier.

With Halloween around the corner, these ladies look as though they are part of it, like a skeleton. Now, I ask you, this cannot possibly be sexy or hot as I hear many people using these terms. It is downright disgusting!

Share your opinion if you do read this blog. I don't get it!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Be Imitators of Christ

Gosh, I am not sure how to start. It has been a while since I have written but the Spirit continues to impress upon me the need to talk about being imitators of Christ.

One thing is for sure, I don't want to be like the movie stars and other celebrities who are rich and never happy; who live drug filled lives and commit suicide. I just wonder are there any celebrities who are happy. But I am certain of one thing: I desire to be more like Christ every day.

I am becoming turned off more and more of watching these celebrities in the movies or supporting their lifestyle by going to movies or watching TV. They are going to have to show me a little bit more! They need to follow Christ's standard and not the world standard.

After watching these movie starts and athletes just waste their lives away and never seem to be satisfied with all that they have, I know for sure I would never imitate or desire to be like any of them!

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:1 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. " Just as children imitate their parents, we should imitate Christ. His great love for us led him to sacrifice himself so that we might live. Our love for others should be of the same kind --- a love that goes beyond affection to self-sacrificing service.

It goes on further in this chapter to say, "But among you, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. (v. 5)

God is holy and perfect, and it is His expectation that those He chose, us, be holy and perfect also. I hear the cliche that only Christ is perfect and how can we be perfect because we are humans. No human is perfect.

Guess what? God is expecting for us to try to be perfect as His son was. We need to follow and imitate Christ's standard.

There should be not even a hint of sexual immorality, and yet the world is preoccupied with what is hot! And I ask, just what is hot! Sex, immoral conduct? No, just our own lustful thoughts and desires. All of which are not pleasing to God. Any kind of impurity, or greed, both of which led us to selfishness and darkness, living out our own desires which led to sin. Sin which separates us from God.

We are impure because we refuse to come out of the darkness and into the light. We like darkness because it gives us an excuse to hid; to sweep our sins under the rug. We are greedy and seek only what we desire and not what God desires of us. We live in a "me" society; it is all about "me." Later for compassion, sincerity, and concern for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

The sad thing about greed is that it never satisfies. The more a person gets, the more the person thinks he needs. Only God can satisfy our needs. We are reminded that our love for others should be of the same kind of love that Christ had for us, an unselfish love.

I feel those who are very fortunate financially should be happy and content, but yet they desire to be sexually immoral, impure and greedy, only thinking of themselves. What good is it to have the world and lose your soul?

Thought for Today: When you think about imitating someone, think about imitating Christ, who gave His life so you could live.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Love, The Most Important Thing

I listen and hear alot of conversation about love. Sometimes I am not certain how the word love is being defined or used. However, I know one thing and that is Love is the most important thing.

The love that Christ and his disciples speak about is agape love. Agape love is an unconditional love that God has for us and we have for Him.

We sometimes think of love as emotional or physical, more of an erotic love, butg the love that God has for his children is more of a love that a father has for his child.

I don't know the exact number of times Christ or his disciples used the word love but I can say that you might be able to find it in most of the 66 books of the Bible.

Biblical love has God as its object, true motivator, and source. Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and is not directed toward the world or the things of the world (the lust of the eyes or flesh or the pride of life).

The ultimate example of God's love is the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, "I give you a new commandment: that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another." (John 13:34)

One of the things that becomes clearer to me as I study the word of God is that if we were able to save ourselves from sin and obey the 10 commandments, God wouldn't have had to send his son, Jesus, to die for our sins.

The Bible tells us in Romans 12:9 that "Love must be sincere. We must hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

It goes on to say,"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves h is fellowman has fulfilled the law." (romans 13:8)

Verse 9 in the same chapter states that all the commandments are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Most of us have learned how to pretend to love others, but sincere loves requires concentration and effort, it means helping others become better people. It demands our time, money, and personal involvement. So we should look for people who need our love, and look for ways we and other fellow believers can love the body or community of Christ.

Why is love for others called a debt? We are permanently indebted to Christ for the love he poured out on us when He died on the cross for our sins. The only way we can even begin tor epay this debt is by loving others in turn. Christ's love will always be infinitely greater than ours; we will always have the obligation to love our neighbors.

When we love our neighbor as ourselves, we make sure that others are fed, clothed, and housed as well as we are. Loving others as ourselves means to be actively working to see that their needs are met. The reason the Apostle Paul said that all the commandments could be summed up into one is because when you love, you don't want to hurt others or see others suffer.

You won't turn your head and pretend that the people around you and your neighborhoods don't exist. You will want for others the same as you have for yourselves.

Thought for Today: Love is the most important thing. If you love God than you will love your neighbor.

Love, The Most Important Thing

I listen and hear alot of conversation about love. Sometimes I am not certain

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Why Should You Go to Church?

I don't think anything is more important to me than "going to church." Many people give excuses why they don't go to church or don't want to go to church.

You certainly can't force anyone to attend church. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Why should you "go to church?" Why can't you just do devotions on your own?
Good questions. It is true God values personal devotions. In fact, He even commands us to "pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

"Going to church" is more than personal devotions. For Christians, "going to church" is the gathering together of a family, your spiritual family. It is as the Apostle Paul described it, uniting the members of one body, the body of Christ. (Romans 12:4:5)

God is more concern that those who are a part of His body be united as one. It is very similar to a marriage. Our marriage to the one, true God. It shows our connection to Him. We belong to Him. He created us to be with Him.

Every Christian is a member of the body of Christ, and every member has unique talents and insights. Sharing these gifts with each other as a unified body strengthens us in our common task of glorying God. You will experience four areas:

1. Fellowship. Regular attendance allows a Christian to become part of a church family---a community of brothers and sisters who share true concern for one another. "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." (1 Corinthians 12:26)

2. Corporate Worship. Jesus promised that "where there are two or three gathered together in His name, there He would be also. (Matthew 18:20) God is gloried when Christians speak of His greatness with each other, and He is pleased to be in our midst.

3. Personal Growth. Meeting regularly with other Christians is an opportunity to be encouraged in your daily walk with Christ, to receive godly advice in areas of difficulty in your life, and to be challenged by the example of more mature Christians. God commands us to "consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together..." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

4. Ministry. The Apostle Paul tells us that God gave "pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12) Attending church allows us to receive the instruction of trained pastors and teachers, helping us to minister both to the world and within the Church.

Church is not just a building where you go to worship God. We, the people of God, are the Church. Since we each have unique gifts that God gave us and we all make up the body of Christ, it is essential that we share our gifts with one another in order to build up the body of Christ, and His Church.

I am very privilege to attend a loving and caring Church, where my Pastor and the leaders, are very devoted to building up the body of Christ and teaching us the Word of God. It makes my week complete, knowing that I will see my spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ each Sunday. They have been a blessing to me and my family. I thank God for them daily. It is my prayer that everyone should be blessed with a Church family and study the Word of God.

Thought for Today: "Going to Church" is God's personal desire for every person He has created in order to connect with Him and the body of Christ.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Rivers of Life

Interesting reading which I am taking from a devotional entitled, "My Utmost for His Highest." This is not an easy book to digest, but one that has great significance in our spiritual growth. The author, Oswald Chambers, writings have been compiled in this devotional. A book to keep close by for daily reading.

In the book of John 7:38, it reads, "He who believes in Me...out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, "rivers of living water," will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even "to the end of the earth" regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be.

We have nothing to do with the outflow, as this is the work of God, that you believe.

A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle.

Do you ever see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God?

Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it.

The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty.

The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source.
Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ, not emotion nor experience, nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.

God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us.

We are to be fountains through which Jesus can flow as "rivers of living water" in blessing to everyone. Yet some of us are like the Dead Sea, always receiving but never giving, because our relationship is not right with the Lord Jesus.

As surely as we receive blessings from Him, He will pour out blessings through us. We are blessed to be a blessing. God looks at our heart.

Thought for Today: If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.