Saturday, January 3, 2015
Friday, December 26, 2014
Unbelievable Pain
Pain is a common occurrence in life &; One may even possibly say a necessity. Pain teaches, it builds upon ones character. Teaches you patience, perseverance, and even obedience. Without it many things would not be learned. Pain is an excellent teacher.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Different
I generally write on things that I experience without going into to much detail about myself. My attempt to be direct, without preaching. Through my life experiences, I attempt to give what guidance I may. So that you may not make the mistakes I have or may be comforted in knowing the truth. Sometimes it is alright to be angry, its alright to grieve to mourn. To be happy when others are not, to have peace when the world may seem to be tearing itself apart. Our peace our joy does not come from what we see, or the bad news we have just gotten, but comes through the "TRUTH" of our Savior. The words He has spoken to us comfort us soothe our aching hearts &; give us joy when it seems as though there should be none to be found. We are not perfect, and its alright. But when we fail we must not sit in our self pity long. Our failure is just another opportunity to start again. With a renewed zeal in Christs purposes, to be about our Fathers business. The road we walk friends is not to be easy, but a hard one. One marked with trials and tribulations. Doing right is not always popular, and when your excited with what your Savior has shewn you and no one else seems to care. You may then realize, it to may even be lonely. We do not live to ourselves, our life is one of service, a life lived for another...Christ left us an example. To love without being loved, to give without expecting return, to be mistreated without seeking vengeance. When even your christian friends think you strange...take comfort in these words..."Rom 8:31-39 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." You have not been called to be like everyone else...Just A Thought
Friday, April 16, 2010
My times are in thy hand
How often has trial, & tribulation knocked on the door of our lives and we think it a curse. When things stray from the course we have set in our mind, when our plans go askew; woe is us. God forbid things do not go according to plan. But what happens when a tragedy occurs, when the worse we can conceive happens to us, when Tragedy itself stands on our doorstep.
Our Faith crumbles, the Heavens themselves close and become as brass. God himself seems as though He has gone far away. What do we do? How can our good God allow these things to happen to “US” ? When things are going right God is great~! When all things are going as planned, life is Peachy. But life being as it is, things happen~! There’s even a T-shirt quote that says it very well, but I won’t repeat that here. The life that we live is lived by expectations. The set of expectations that we have, in a sense govern our lives. They mold and shape us, the dictate to us where our children will go to school, where we will work, what we will wear, who we let into our lives, & even who we will marry. The thing is when these “Expectations” are unmet we lose it, some worse than others, and that’s on a small scale. When disaster looms or tragedy knocks, the blood drains from are faces & we become as deer in head lights.
Why do bad things happen to “Good” people ? Why when bad things happen to those good
people they act as if the proverbial rug has been yanked right from under them? Why do the
heavens seem as brass and their God is miles away if not gone altogether? These are all things
that we will all deal with to some extent or other in our Christian walk. What we have in
common are not the specific events, but the same God. Be that as it may, I know that “HE”
Himself has a set of “Expectations” for us as well. Such as to trust in Him.
Mat 6:30-34 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is,
and to- morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
The sovereignty of God touches “All” and His rule is subject to no one. We have such
trouble with bad things happening to us “Good” people. It’s even taught to some extent that
bad things will not happen, and if they do it is because of a lack of faith on our part. Take
Job who was not only righteous, but God boasted of him to Satan. When hearing of the boast
Satan put it to a challenge before God. Whom resolutely took it with faith in his servant Job.
Why? Because Jobs faith was set on God and Him alone, not on possessions or the works of his
own two hands, but instead stood resolutely on the shoulders of Gods’ promises.
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
You have to just read Job 1:12-22 to see the reaction we ought to give when tragedy knocks.
So then why don’t we respond this way when we receive this kind of news? I believe it is
because we either do not trust in Gods’ word or we do not know His word. Our Lord is never far when tragedy occurs. In Job we read how God has
a hedge round about Job and nothing was able to touch him without the permission of God. That is a beautiful thing, our God is Big~! He set the stars in place called them all by name,
“Yet” has numbered every hair on my head, it is a hard and majestic thing I don’t understand it
but I believe it. Psa 139:5-6 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
So often when tragedy is presented we only see one face, but it is not the only face He would have us see. Instead of a curse let us rejoice as in response to what paul says in Romans 8:28 For we know all things work together for the good of those who love Christ, to them who are the called according to His purpose.....Just a thought
Our Faith crumbles, the Heavens themselves close and become as brass. God himself seems as though He has gone far away. What do we do? How can our good God allow these things to happen to “US” ? When things are going right God is great~! When all things are going as planned, life is Peachy. But life being as it is, things happen~! There’s even a T-shirt quote that says it very well, but I won’t repeat that here. The life that we live is lived by expectations. The set of expectations that we have, in a sense govern our lives. They mold and shape us, the dictate to us where our children will go to school, where we will work, what we will wear, who we let into our lives, & even who we will marry. The thing is when these “Expectations” are unmet we lose it, some worse than others, and that’s on a small scale. When disaster looms or tragedy knocks, the blood drains from are faces & we become as deer in head lights.
Why do bad things happen to “Good” people ? Why when bad things happen to those good
people they act as if the proverbial rug has been yanked right from under them? Why do the
heavens seem as brass and their God is miles away if not gone altogether? These are all things
that we will all deal with to some extent or other in our Christian walk. What we have in
common are not the specific events, but the same God. Be that as it may, I know that “HE”
Himself has a set of “Expectations” for us as well. Such as to trust in Him.
Mat 6:30-34 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is,
and to- morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
The sovereignty of God touches “All” and His rule is subject to no one. We have such
trouble with bad things happening to us “Good” people. It’s even taught to some extent that
bad things will not happen, and if they do it is because of a lack of faith on our part. Take
Job who was not only righteous, but God boasted of him to Satan. When hearing of the boast
Satan put it to a challenge before God. Whom resolutely took it with faith in his servant Job.
Why? Because Jobs faith was set on God and Him alone, not on possessions or the works of his
own two hands, but instead stood resolutely on the shoulders of Gods’ promises.
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
You have to just read Job 1:12-22 to see the reaction we ought to give when tragedy knocks.
So then why don’t we respond this way when we receive this kind of news? I believe it is
because we either do not trust in Gods’ word or we do not know His word. Our Lord is never far when tragedy occurs. In Job we read how God has
a hedge round about Job and nothing was able to touch him without the permission of God. That is a beautiful thing, our God is Big~! He set the stars in place called them all by name,
“Yet” has numbered every hair on my head, it is a hard and majestic thing I don’t understand it
but I believe it. Psa 139:5-6 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
So often when tragedy is presented we only see one face, but it is not the only face He would have us see. Instead of a curse let us rejoice as in response to what paul says in Romans 8:28 For we know all things work together for the good of those who love Christ, to them who are the called according to His purpose.....Just a thought
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Giving Up?
Giving in, but not giving up? Ever feel like just throwing in the towel, but just not quite ready to give in....Been beat down so often that when you see the bully you start to pull out the money, but for some reason you put it back, standing yet once again defiant in the face of certain bodily punishment. Why do we stand yet again after we have fallen so many times before. When they stand and say Ah Hah, the moment we trip or stumble. It may seem as the whole world is waiting for it. Why don't we just quit, give up, concede? What is it that keeps us from laying on our backs, keeps us from throwing in the towel and saying "DAMN IT" I give up..!
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. That urge to just press on, to get back up JUST ONE MORE TIME....a still small voice that comforts you saying "I will never leave you nor forsake you". When we as parents see our children fall we often times rush over to help them up, but sometimes we stand back watching them wait for us to rush over and fix things. When we do not immediately make our presence known we can watch their reaction change from that of expectation to one of fear. Where is Dad, Mom ? How am I going to get back up, but after thrashing about a bit they realize they have a little pair of legs and hands that are quite effectively able to right them. We often have to let them thrash about a bit that they learn something they would have otherwise never learned. It is not that we left them, but we left them to let them learn. We never really went any where, in reality we were there the whole time. But as far as they were concerned we were miles away. It may seem like that when times are rough. When we are at our bleakest moments it may seem just like Christ has left us, that our Lord is no longer concerned with our well being. The reality could not be any further from the truth.
So many of the things that come to our lives door step, we have invited. It's not as though God sent them...though He does at times send hardships or trials our way that we may learn. But much more often its a self wrought invitation signed by our own Foolishness, not Ignorance that would imply we didn't know better. We did, we do....so many of the things that bring and have brought hardship we knew not to do...or we didn't seek counsel from our Lord before hand when we knew to. All the same it was avoidable. So what do we do since it was by our asking that misfortune knocks? Simply giving up is always an option....For some, but not for us. God's Word says "Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:" So why do we keep pushing on when it seems that everyone around us says "Why don't you just curse God and die !" Well ....It is so much easier to push on when you have some one their cheering, whispering songs of encouragement making it all....well for lack of a better word OK. Paul says it so much more elegant than I do...."Rom 8:31-39 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ......Just A Thought
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. That urge to just press on, to get back up JUST ONE MORE TIME....a still small voice that comforts you saying "I will never leave you nor forsake you". When we as parents see our children fall we often times rush over to help them up, but sometimes we stand back watching them wait for us to rush over and fix things. When we do not immediately make our presence known we can watch their reaction change from that of expectation to one of fear. Where is Dad, Mom ? How am I going to get back up, but after thrashing about a bit they realize they have a little pair of legs and hands that are quite effectively able to right them. We often have to let them thrash about a bit that they learn something they would have otherwise never learned. It is not that we left them, but we left them to let them learn. We never really went any where, in reality we were there the whole time. But as far as they were concerned we were miles away. It may seem like that when times are rough. When we are at our bleakest moments it may seem just like Christ has left us, that our Lord is no longer concerned with our well being. The reality could not be any further from the truth.
So many of the things that come to our lives door step, we have invited. It's not as though God sent them...though He does at times send hardships or trials our way that we may learn. But much more often its a self wrought invitation signed by our own Foolishness, not Ignorance that would imply we didn't know better. We did, we do....so many of the things that bring and have brought hardship we knew not to do...or we didn't seek counsel from our Lord before hand when we knew to. All the same it was avoidable. So what do we do since it was by our asking that misfortune knocks? Simply giving up is always an option....For some, but not for us. God's Word says "Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:" So why do we keep pushing on when it seems that everyone around us says "Why don't you just curse God and die !" Well ....It is so much easier to push on when you have some one their cheering, whispering songs of encouragement making it all....well for lack of a better word OK. Paul says it so much more elegant than I do...."Rom 8:31-39 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ......Just A Thought
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Truth's strength
How often have we done things knowing that we shouldn't have done it, only to severely regret it after wards. Often wishing we had a third leg to kick ourselves with. Often we do things, the small things that don't immediately trigger a convicted response, something we can easily ignore simply by thinking a loud thought, or purposely avoiding the "Voice" that seemingly gets smaller each time you ignore it.
Though we may try, again and again, swearing on our "all" to our own detriment that it will never happen again. Alas again we fail, only to recede once again into our self made pit of despair. Where we convince ourselves that we belong, along with our self loathing, doubt, pity and every thing else that is contrary to the desired response of a wounded Child of God. Why does it happen again and again? Though every fiber of our being yearns for release from the bondage of sin. May perhaps it be a besetting sin, or that it may be a constant battle of the flesh in general. Regardless "all" Christians deal with that particular issue in their life at some point, & some more often than others. The apostle Paul himself speaks of his own battle with sin " Rom 7:18-20 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. " Moses had his anger, David his Adultery....Moses spoke with God face to face, and David was a man after God's own heart. We are never to great that we may not fall, let no man tell you that he does not battle sin, because when we stop the warfare we succumb, and are quickly defeated. We are to walk in this world as an ever prepared Veteran of warfare...in the armor of God " Eph 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Whether its seed is sown in the spiritual or by our own un-renewed mind, it is when the sin begins to take root that it becomes so disastrous to our spiritual well being. It never goes willingly, and rarely leaves easily once taken root.We are never going to be in a place where sin is not to be guarded against, & watched for in all of its subtle forms and suggestions. " Jas 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
We need truth by and large, it's the truth that we cling to, that gives us hope & strength. With it we stand vehemently, in the face of our adversaries. With it we establish our foundation, with it we find that last bit of fortitude we need in order to stand until the day of our hoped of expectations to come to pass. Truth, the truth enlightens us, opens our eyes, sets us free. " Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " The truth of our situation doesn't need to be despair, but hope; hope for that day that we will come to completion and perfection in our Savior and our Lord Christ Jesus. With truth we learn our situation is not Hope-LESS, but in fact has been prepared for. We have been given the tools needed in order to overcome. We are more than conquerors "Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We do not need to stand defensively, but are able to, Nay are commanded to live offensively in the "tearing down of strongholds"..... No more sidelines, my despairing brothers and sister, but stand to your feet and know to whom you belong......know whom you are, A Child of the KING....we need to start acting it and living it. No more toying with sin no matter the size and let us run the race that is set before us....."Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."...
Just a Thought
Though we may try, again and again, swearing on our "all" to our own detriment that it will never happen again. Alas again we fail, only to recede once again into our self made pit of despair. Where we convince ourselves that we belong, along with our self loathing, doubt, pity and every thing else that is contrary to the desired response of a wounded Child of God. Why does it happen again and again? Though every fiber of our being yearns for release from the bondage of sin. May perhaps it be a besetting sin, or that it may be a constant battle of the flesh in general. Regardless "all" Christians deal with that particular issue in their life at some point, & some more often than others. The apostle Paul himself speaks of his own battle with sin " Rom 7:18-20 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. " Moses had his anger, David his Adultery....Moses spoke with God face to face, and David was a man after God's own heart. We are never to great that we may not fall, let no man tell you that he does not battle sin, because when we stop the warfare we succumb, and are quickly defeated. We are to walk in this world as an ever prepared Veteran of warfare...in the armor of God " Eph 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Whether its seed is sown in the spiritual or by our own un-renewed mind, it is when the sin begins to take root that it becomes so disastrous to our spiritual well being. It never goes willingly, and rarely leaves easily once taken root.We are never going to be in a place where sin is not to be guarded against, & watched for in all of its subtle forms and suggestions. " Jas 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
We need truth by and large, it's the truth that we cling to, that gives us hope & strength. With it we stand vehemently, in the face of our adversaries. With it we establish our foundation, with it we find that last bit of fortitude we need in order to stand until the day of our hoped of expectations to come to pass. Truth, the truth enlightens us, opens our eyes, sets us free. " Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " The truth of our situation doesn't need to be despair, but hope; hope for that day that we will come to completion and perfection in our Savior and our Lord Christ Jesus. With truth we learn our situation is not Hope-LESS, but in fact has been prepared for. We have been given the tools needed in order to overcome. We are more than conquerors "Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We do not need to stand defensively, but are able to, Nay are commanded to live offensively in the "tearing down of strongholds"..... No more sidelines, my despairing brothers and sister, but stand to your feet and know to whom you belong......know whom you are, A Child of the KING....we need to start acting it and living it. No more toying with sin no matter the size and let us run the race that is set before us....."Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."...
Just a Thought
Monday, November 9, 2009
Identity
Why is one of our first responses to cling to our wallet or purse, when we hear the word "Sacrifice"? Are the times that tough? I think their is a bit more to it than that, & like many things it's merely a symptom of the underlying ailment, and whenever we want to get to the root of things per se we'll have to ask a few digging questions. Such as; What power does money have over us? Is Money evil? The Real issue?
Throughout the ages we (Human Race) have fought, died, robbed, and murdered for it. Whats the draw, why is their such a desire for it? Money throughout history has had many faces, be it the all familiar gold coin, the Euro, the U.S. dollar, the Yen, the Peso, to the carton of smokes or postage stamps in the "Penitentiary". They may not have the same purchasing power, but the function or purpose is the same. To be able to purchase what is not yours, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But the potential to wrap it into the identity of who we are is the snare that captures so many of us.What we posses or own is not who we are, yet we cling so strongly to that view. The man who runs into his burning house and is overcome, simply to grab one more thing. The man who dies fighting for his wallet as though he were fighting for a loved one. The one who decides to end it all because all he has worked for in this life is gone through one bad investment. Jesus confronted this issue 2000 years ago "Mar 8:35-36 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Solomon commented on this as well when he said "Ecclesiastes 5:15 Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." Webster defines Identity: 1 a : sameness of essential or generic character in different instances b : sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing : oneness
2 a : the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : individuality b : the relation established by psychological identification
We identify ourselves with where we live, what we drive, what we wear, and so much more, but Christ said it should not be, "Mat. 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Our identity needs to be found in Christ. Who we are is not material, but spiritual our (Christians) identity is found in our new found relationship with the Father through and by Christ. "Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Money is not inherently evil of itself, "WE ARE" except as we die to ourselves and are changed. The doctrine of Regeneration speaks to that (1 Pet. 2:9), (John 3:3), (2 Cor. 5:17) . As we begin to identify with ourselves in Christ, the former desires of this world begin to fall off of us, as an old tattered garment . So we begin to be clothed with robes of righteousness unsullied by the desires of this world. Unweighted by desires that hinder us from accomplishing Gods' will on earth, we are able to easily loose our worldly possessions in exchange for heavenly riches ( Mat. 6:20-21) ....Just a Thought
Throughout the ages we (Human Race) have fought, died, robbed, and murdered for it. Whats the draw, why is their such a desire for it? Money throughout history has had many faces, be it the all familiar gold coin, the Euro, the U.S. dollar, the Yen, the Peso, to the carton of smokes or postage stamps in the "Penitentiary". They may not have the same purchasing power, but the function or purpose is the same. To be able to purchase what is not yours, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But the potential to wrap it into the identity of who we are is the snare that captures so many of us.What we posses or own is not who we are, yet we cling so strongly to that view. The man who runs into his burning house and is overcome, simply to grab one more thing. The man who dies fighting for his wallet as though he were fighting for a loved one. The one who decides to end it all because all he has worked for in this life is gone through one bad investment. Jesus confronted this issue 2000 years ago "Mar 8:35-36 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Solomon commented on this as well when he said "Ecclesiastes 5:15 Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." Webster defines Identity: 1 a : sameness of essential or generic character in different instances b : sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing : oneness
2 a : the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : individuality b : the relation established by psychological identification
We identify ourselves with where we live, what we drive, what we wear, and so much more, but Christ said it should not be, "Mat. 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Our identity needs to be found in Christ. Who we are is not material, but spiritual our (Christians) identity is found in our new found relationship with the Father through and by Christ. "Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Money is not inherently evil of itself, "WE ARE" except as we die to ourselves and are changed. The doctrine of Regeneration speaks to that (1 Pet. 2:9), (John 3:3), (2 Cor. 5:17) . As we begin to identify with ourselves in Christ, the former desires of this world begin to fall off of us, as an old tattered garment . So we begin to be clothed with robes of righteousness unsullied by the desires of this world. Unweighted by desires that hinder us from accomplishing Gods' will on earth, we are able to easily loose our worldly possessions in exchange for heavenly riches ( Mat. 6:20-21) ....Just a Thought
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