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Children

Psalm 34:11 NIV
[11] Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Psalm 127:3 NIV
[3] Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

There is much to be said about children in relation to the Lord. God never intended us to be orphans or children in destitute. When we were young we were unaware of our creator. Through the gospel we have learned that even though we become aged, we are still his children.

No matter how old we get, we are still God’s children.

Proverbs 22:6 NIV
[6] Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Parenting isn’t easy. It’s probably the hardest thing to learn at a young age. This trade of parenthood can be handed to us at anytime, whether we plan it or not. Though it isn’t easy and takes a lifetime to master. It is the most rewarding and can also be the most heartbreaking thing you will ever do. Once you become a parent, life takes on a whole new meaning. Through loving and caring for our children we learn how our Heavenly Father loves Jesus his son and his children. We discover unconditional love or agape love in the Greek.

I had the unwanted privilege of being an absentee parent. No one wakes up in the morning and says “I think I’ll get a divorce today”. I don’t think anyone really plans to have that happen as a child. We all want our happy ever after, right?

I was in my children’s lives but indirectly. Thank the Lord for FaceTime and modern technology that brought me closer to my children without actually being in there midst.

Whether we have biological children, adopted children, or mentoring a youth group and counseling, we all have a responsibility as human beings to help get our children through tough times and hopefully accept Jesus and all become believers.

My prayer for us is that as husbands, dads, wives and mothers, we can all step up and be there for our children as we do our very best to lead them toward the pathway to heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In him

Deity of Jesus

There are talks of this man Jesus, that is God in human form. Many didn’t believe the news about this man, but many others did. They wanted to catch this man and find out the truth about him. To see for themselves if everything they heard was true and accurate.

Many do believe Jesus was a great man that did many good deeds but deny the fact that he is God!! He has come. This Jesus has come and transfigured himself many times throughout his journey on earth!! How can we deny his deity? After he died on the cross he came back a resurrected Jesus. In the flesh once again. We must believe in his deity. It’s been proven, and if we don’t believe and deny the deity of Jesus then we rob him of his power and our hope of salvation is lost.

“But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.4.30.NIV

Let us remember, this was around the time everyone was coming after him. Trying to catch him.

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.17.1-8.NIV

“About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭28‬-‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.9.28-36.NIV

Note: The first scripture is from Matthew and the second is from Luke’s record.

Could you imagine being in the presence of God with the Son at that very moment?!? Peter, John and James were scared as they could be!! But Jesus told them, don’t be afraid!! Imagine having to get yourself together to not be afraid at that moment.

It is difficult for me to believe Jesus isn’t God and one with the Father.

May God bless your faith and all of your studies.

In him

Communion

What is communion really?

com·mun·ion

[kəˈmyo͞onyən]

NOUN

  1. the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level:

1 Corinthians 11:26 NIV
[26] For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

The cup that represents Christ blood on the cross it is to be taken in a manner worthy of Jesus. We take it in humbleness, awe and complete reverence of him. To be taken in any other manner would be deemed unacceptable. We have to prepare the mind as when we approach the Lord.

“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.””
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.11.25.NIV

Matthew 26:26-30 NIV
[26] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” [27] Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. [28] This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. [29] I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” [30] When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

This is the bread that represents Christ body on the cross. Today crackers are the safest to put forth for people to partake of. Once again mind preparation when taking communion with the Lord.

“Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.11.28.NIV

com·mune

[ˈkäˌmyo͞on]

NOUN

  1. a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities:

We are a church family and have a responsibility as a church people to edify the church and all of its members . We do so by attendance and communion. So who is allowed to participate and partake in communion? The baptized in Christ, the followers of Jesus. Anyone who claims to be Christian but has not been baptized into Christ really shouldn’t take it because what are they communing to? Parents often think it to be cute and funny to let children drink the juice and have a snack with the crackers. This is not what it’s about. It’s about Jesus and people that allow their children to do this, take away from the original message and meaning of it.

In the days of Jesus, wine was used to commune with God. However, people started abusing it and used it as a time to eat and drink to get full. This clearly is not what this was meant for. People abused the wine and were getting drunk. Today we use grape juice. It is much safer for all to use instead of alcohol. Recovering alcoholics would lose sobriety by taking the cup. Preventing them or anyone to fall prey to this is a must.

Revelation 17:6 NIV
[6] I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

1 Corinthians 11:27 NIV
[27] So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

Communion is beautiful thing when done correctly and carefully. There is nothing greater on earth than communion with our Lord Jesus. To worship him in spirit, truth of scripture and song. That’s what we were meant for. Sharing in the gospel, spreading the good news, preaching and teaching.

May God bless all of your services

In him

Doing The Right Thing

What are you passionate about?

I have always wanted to be right, to do the right thing. Do right by everyone and myself. Sometimes the right thing isn’t always easy. We may find it gut wrenching, pride swallowing, or even hurtful to get the right thing done. Sometimes the right thing to do is to go the extra mile when our gas tank is empty. When we want to but we just don’t feel like we can. This is when you find out exactly what you’re made of. Maybe it is congratulating someone for winning a competition that you lost in. I know it’s just good sportsmanship but not all feel the same way. Having to swallow some pride and or admitting to ourselves a loss. Sometimes we gotta take one on the jaw.

1 Peter 3:14 NIV
[14] But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.”

2 Corinthians 13:7 NIV
[7] Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.

Bible

I have had many people ask me,”how do you know the Bible is true and real”? If you search you can find the answers yourself.

All my life I have always identified myself as a first century Christian. Then I asked myself why do I believe. What convinced me that God is real, Jesus is who he says he is, or how did I make my mind up that Jesus is the way the truth and the life?

The Word of God! The Bible!

Proof that he is real. Physical evidence of a divine being is all I needed. Yes he is real, yes he is who he says he is.

Archeologists and scientists have uncovered and unearthed many Biblical findings. Events such as the parting of the Red Sea, pharaoh’s chariots at the bottom of the Red Sea (see Solving the Exodus Mystery by Ted Stewart), to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, to the flood and everything that has been recorded in the Bible and found on earth today are parallel.

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed. Sulfur is still in the ground in those cities today.
The petrified wood from the ark found on Mt. Ararat, the place where the ark landed.

Carbon 14 dating has been a very beneficial tool used to determine the age of the findings in comparison to what has been recorded in the Bible. All the archaeological findings that have been carbon 14 dated have matched the biblical records.

The Bible, every since it was written, has been in question by everyone across the globe and yet has been proven true time and again.

Through time, it is the only book I know that has been burned time after time and evildoers have tried to abolish any copies that might have been made. People have tried to destroy the word of God. Somehow, it has been preserved. God’s providential care? How else could the Bible have survived all its destruction.

May God bless your searches

In him

Jesus

What are the most important things needed to live a good life?

In order to live a good life we need to be willing to learn. Never tend to think we know anything although we may have experience in certain areas and situations doesn’t mean we know everything.

We need to develop good interpersonal communication skills as well as technological communication skills. Most, maybe not everything is done through technology in today’s fast paced world.

If we cannot learn from our Lord Jesus, then we really have no hope of becoming like him, nor do we have hold of salvation, and doing his will. Without him, we are just a fallen people in a fallen world.

In him

Women and the Church

Women and the Church have brought about controversy in the eyes of people across the globe. This is a sensitive topic for most people and I completely understand. Understanding the order of men and women in creation is parallel to the order of men and women in the church.

They are parallel in creation because God made man first. Woman second.

They are parallel in the church because God made the man to be head of his wife and household.

Men who understand the order of things the way God wants them have often been called sexist, and even chauvinistic. God wants men to be leaders and lead their families. God wants me to lead my wife and kids straight to heaven through his word. Preaching and teaching my family. If men are lazy in the leadership department, which I am guilty of, then many women feel obligated to take the leadership role. I completely understand how women would feel not heard or overlooked. Many women think that they don’t have equal rights as men do in the church because they aren’t allowed behind the pulpit. Women play a strong role in the church.

Many women today have had to take the lead because the men in their lives won’t or maybe in a situation where they had to. Whatever the case, God designed and assigned men to be leaders in the church. Women today have had to be strong and independent to survive in the world, however, that is a worldly view.

Though women aren’t supposed to be behind the pulpit they play a powerful role in the church. Teaching classes to our youth in youth classes and Bible study!! Studying Bible in the home, very important. Our youth is our future. We have to preach and teach our young ones or else no one is there to carry on after we are gone.

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

Genesis 2:21-22 NIV
[21] So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. [22] Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

Genesis 2:23 NIV
[23] The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man. ”

Just as Christ is head of the church, man is head of his wife and household by the Lord’s design.

“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.5.23.NIV

It is important for us to search the scriptures and understand the order of things. Without order there is chaos and confusion. God is not a God of confusion but of order and understanding.

In him