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Welcome to my blog: I intend to share heartfelt writing about anything that comes to mind. |
Take Up Your Cross Prompt: Jeremiah 2:31 says "And you, O genneration, behold the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say "We are free, we will come and go no more." Explain this passage. Answer: Jeremiah 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. Explanation-My people have forgotten me. The people didn’t want to follow God’s plan for their life anymore. However, God is asking if he has neglected them in any way? He is asking if their is any good cause for them to reject him.
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❤️Happy Valentine’s Day!❤️ These last couple days have been a bit crazy. I live in Oklahoma. Well, we have a huge snowstorm occurring today. So in preparation of this storm, I went out with an elderly neighbor to help her run errands. The first day, Friday, I was out for five hours. I had not planned on being out that long. When I returned home, my roommate told me someone had just walked into the apartment, but our little dog chased them out. Don’t underestimate what a small dog can do people! Lol She is a 16 pound chaweenie dog. How scary though! I had left the door unlocked because my roommate was home, and hadn’t planned on being gone that long. From now on, I don’t care if I am just going to the mailbox, that door is going to get locked. That could have turned out way worse than it did. Anyway, still tired from the day before, I went out with the neighbor again to finish up her errands, and was gone another 3 hours on Saturday. Plus, apparently due to nerves, the poor little dog was sick. She is much better today, but is not very happy with whoever ordered the snow. So this is a big part of the reason I didn’t get much writing accomplished the last couple of days. I spent a big part of today just resting up a bit. I watched the church service online. —————————————————————————————————————- Thoughts On Prayer Apparently, the devil thought he was going to hinder me from writing this because God knows he tried. By the way, I figured out why all the typing I did on Friday didn’t save. I was so tired, but tried to type it anyway. So when I typed it and thought I had saved it, I forgot to title my entry. Therefore, since I didn’t title it, it didn’t save it. We will count that one lesson learned the hard way. 🤷♀️ You better believe titling it is the first thing I plan on doing from now on! As I prayed over what God wanted me to say on this and how he wanted me to say it, it occurred to me that now I have an opportunity to write it better. So what the devil meant for evil, God is using for good. Praise God! I love it when he works that way! I read some of the other people’s thoughts on what they prayed for, and it struck a cord in me. I could see that something needed to be said about prayer more in depth. I am a person who believes strongly in the power of prayer. So I decided to write a separate item on it.
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Take Up Your Cross February 12, 2021 entry Prompt: What are you praying for? Answer: Anything and everything! The above is the simple answer. Since we don’t write on Sunday, I think I am going to write a separate entry on my thoughts about prayer. It has been a busy day today and I think I can concentrate better on this tomorrow. February 13, 2021 entry Prompt: Today I am going to go back to Proverbs for a bit. Explain Proverbs 14:14. Answer: Proverbs 14:14 (KJV) The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. I have spoken before about how the Bible often refers to what is in the heart. When we are following and serving God from our heart, our focus is on him. When we are not following God, our focus is on ourselves. If we are backsliding, then our focus is on ourselves. I could say a lot on this topic, but I am honestly not in the mood to write tonight. Maybe I can add thoughts on this tomorrow too. As you read through proverbs, you may notice a reoccurring theme. If you are wise, you will provide for yourself and your family. You will not rely on gifts and handouts, but will be diligent and work for your own reward. So I believe it is saying a good man will do just that. He will satisfy himself. Now I am not saying you can’t ever accept charity when you need it. However, if you are not willing to help yourself, how can others truly help you? Another thought is that a backslider and good man alike will be rewarded according to their own works by God himself. You reap what you sew.
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| For the record, if I have other thoughts besides today’s prompts, I will place them above or below this blog section for the day. Taking Up The Cross Prompt: Mark 5:29-34 tells us the story of a woman who had an irregularity ion her menstrual cycle whom Jesus healed. What is significant about the fact that she touched Him besides the faith it took to do so? Answer: This one is a bit of a challenge for me. I honestly never gave it much thought, but I went to read verses 25-34 of Mark chapter 5. Here are my thoughts: 1. Besides faith, I see hope in Christ. V.28 2. I see possibly consideration seeing how busy Jesus was and how many people already surrounded him. .v. 27 3. I see fear, worship, and honesty. V.33 4. I see desperation. V.26 Conclusion: It took boldness in the hope that only Jesus himself provides. Her faith was shown through her actions. Jesus took the time for her in the middle of a busy crowd. Jesus will not ignore those who truly make a heartfelt effort to be close to him. If you want to be near Jesus, press into him if only to touch his garments.
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Take Up Your Cross Prompt: I am getting ready to have a Bible study with some of the guys here in the home so I am sending the prompt before hand. I would forget later. Why is Bible study important? How often do you study with others? Answer: I could say a whole lot on this topic. This could turn into a sermon. Why is Bible study important? First of all, studying the Bible is not just about religion. It is not some regular ritual or practice like attending church every Sunday or saying a prayer before meals. Although, for some people it can turn into this. However, some religious ritual is not what it is intended to be. Reading and studying the Bible is about a relationship. This is the most important relationship you can have in your entire life. It is a relationship with Almighty God, the creator of the universe. When thinking about relationships, how are they developed and maintained? You develop and maintain a relationship by spending time communicating with the person you are wanting the relationship with. This pertains to any relationship: love, friendship, and relative. How do we have communication with God? When we want to talk to him, we pray. Do we not want God to talk to us too? How are we going to learn about him if we don’t read his word? How can we hear what he has to say to us if we don’t take time to listen? Do you even know everything it says? Do you want to increase your faith in God? Read and study the Bible. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. If you don’t hear it preached and you aren’t reading or studying it, how will you hear God’s word to increase your faith? Do you want direction in your life so you will know what to do and where to go next? Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. Read the Bible. Psalm 119:7 - I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. Do you want to know how to praise God? Open up that Bible! Do you want to avoid sin? Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. - Psalm 119:9. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. - Psalm 119:11. Study God’s word. Do you want to behold wondrous things? Psalm 119:18 - Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Read God’s word. Verse 16 of Psalm chapter 119 says, “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word”. Do you want to be delighted in God’s statutes? They are found in the Bible. Memorize it, read it, study it, and get familiar with it. Do you want to be removed from reproach and contempt? 22. Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. 23. Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. (Psalm 119:22-23) Think about the Word of God. Do you want counseling? Psalm 119:24 - Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. Read the Bible. Do you want comfort in the time of affliction? Read God’s word. (Psalm 119:50) This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. Psalm 119:58-60 is as follows. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. Do you want mercy? Do you want to know how to change your ways? Study the Bible. Do you need good judgment and knowledge? It is in the Bible. Psalm 119:66 - Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. Believe in the Bible. Do you want to do good? Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. (Psalm 119:68) Study God’s word. Psalm 119:80, Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed. Do you want want to know God’s Word and Sound doctrine? Read the word. Psalm 119:81, My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. Do you want the Hope of Salvation? Hope in God’s word. Do you want help to endure persecution? All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. (Psalm119:86) God’s word is faithful. Get familiar with it. (Psalm 119:93) I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. Do you want to be quickened? Memorize scripture. (Quicken means to make alive, revive, stimulate, enliven.) Do you want to be saved? Look at Psalm 119:94. I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts. Search those scriptures. Do you want to be wiser than your enemies? Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. Psalm 119:98. Meditate on the scriptures. (Psalm 119:99-100) 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. Do you want want more understanding than the teachers or the old people? Meditation in the Word of God and keeping his commandments is the answer. Do you want a hiding place and shield? Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. - Psalm 119:114. Hope is found in the Bible. Seek shelter in the Word of God. Do you want evil doers to depart from you? Psalm 119:115 - Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Study the Bible and keep God’s commandments. Do you want to be delivered from the oppression of man? 133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. - Psalm 119:133-134. Take direction from the Word of God. Do you want great peace? Love the Bible. Psalm 119:165 says, “ Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them”. Do you want God to seek you? Memorize scripture and keep his commandments. Psalm 119:176 - I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. 2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Do you want to know the truth and not be ashamed? Study the Bible so that you will know truth and not be ashamed before God. Do you want to know Jesus? John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Know the Bible. Then there is 2 Timothy 3:16-17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Oh man or woman of God, do you want to be perfect unto all good works? Spend time in the Bible. We must read, study, memorize, and learn to love God’s word. By doing so, we love God himself, and we get to know his love for us. As far as studying the Bible with other people, I believe we gain a better understanding of it by studying it with other people. The Bible does say, “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together.” I don’t get together personally with others as much as I would like to, but I am definitely working on it.
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Take Up Your Cross Prompt: We all have a Bible verse that we like more than any other. Besides John 3:16 which is everybody's favorite, what is your favorite Bible verse and why? Answer: Psalm 37:23-24 (KJV) 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. This is my favorite scripture. It is filled with hope. God is my strength, and will not let me fall. Not only does he lead me down the right path, he is delighted to do it. He takes pleasure in helping me. I also have a second favorite verse. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Have you heard the song, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”? This song is one of my favorite songs too. The chorus says, “Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” What a comfort it is to know, God holds my hand all the time, and is able to keep me from falling. Like a good Father, He leads me, guides me, comforts me, disciplines me, wipes the tears from my eyes, and walks with me. He gives me a hope for the future, and forgiveness for my past. I have confidence because I am his. I have hope and a peace that passes all understanding. This is the God I put my faith, hope, and trust in, and he keeps me in ALL my ways.
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This will be my first entry for:
First of all, I would like to say some things about Taking up my cross in general, and what it personally means to me. I actually love this idea of daily writing about our Christian walk and how we should take up our cross. It is good to put ourselves in remembrance of these things and to truly think about how we are living our daily lives. The cross itself represents a lot of different things to many different people. To some, it represents Salvation. To another, it is a representation of suffering, death, and pain. Others may see it as a symbol of hope. There are those that like to wear it as a religious symbol around their neck to make themselves look good. Others still, may keep it and cherish it, such as on a rosary. It might be held up and waved around to scare off demons and evil spirits, making it a sacred object of protection. What does the cross itself mean to me? It is an alter where a very precious sacrifice was slain and given for my sins and the sins of the whole world. The cross of Jesus is a very expensive item. He paid for it with his physical life. He was literally drained of all his life-blood like an animal sacrificed to the God of Creation. He did it willingly to bring Salvation to us all, and to gain victory over sin and death and Hell. Because of his sacrifice, we don’t have to be thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second (spiritual) death, unless we choose to reject this gift of Salvation. So what does it mean to pick up my cross and to follow him? What does this actually mean to me? I must also be willing to lay down my life for Christ and for others. I must reject the lust and desires of my flesh in order to die to myself and to live for him. I must be willing to suffer for the sake of the cause. I must be willing to walk in Jesus’ steps. Why? Not only should I do this because I love my God and others, but for the hope of eternal life after my physical death for myself and others. I keep in mind the full picture, knowing what my end will be and the unbeliever’s. ———————————————- Take Up Your Cross Prompt: Hi Everybody I was preaching today. The topic was one that I was a bit reluctant to preach on because it placed me and one of the members of my congregation in direct conflict with each other. It was a sermon about judging others as sinful because we disagree with their blatantly sinful choices. I take the position that we are all equally guilty in the eyes of God and that the only difference between Christians and non-believers is that our daily sinfulness is forgiven. I was sure I hurt his feelings so I spoke with him about it later. He said that I had not. I had spoken what God had given me. How do you deal with conflicts of belief with fellow believers? My answer: Whatever we do, we must do it in love. God is love, and we represent him. Tone of voice and non-verbal communication (hand gestures, facial expressions, etc...) have a big part in the way your message is received. So keep in mind, even though what you actually said was good, what you didn’t say can also cause offense to someone. Jesus told us we would be persecuted for his name sake. We can be persecuted or troubled by fellow believers as well as unbelievers. We are all sinners. We all come short of the glory of God. Sometimes it is fellow believers that we are offended by the most because we least expect it from them. I think this is why a lot of people stop attending church. We must bare in mind, people need church because we need a savior and are imperfect beings. We come to church to worship God, to learn God’s ways, for healing, for prayers, for support, and for fellowship with others. Sometimes we have to respectfully agree to disagree with another believer. We get so emotional in our beliefs and opinions that some of us forget how to act. Violence, strife, disagreements, fighting, lack of unity, and murder are all not of God. We must have wisdom and discretion to know when it is appropriate or necessary for us to walk away from the situation. We must keep our emotions in check; we have to control our emotions and not let them control us. We have to remember to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and the full armor of God. How would Jesus respond to the person disagreeing with you? |
| I have read Genesis 1-4 over the last couple days from a study Bible given to me by my pastor. It is The Reformation Study Bible, King James Version. This Bible is set up where the top part of the page is scripture and the bottom part of the page is concordance. This is very helpful. I like it a lot. I have written a little Bible study about what is in the heart. It is in my portfolio. It seems like this has been a reoccurring theme to me over that last few months. It even came up as I was reading the first 4 chapters of Genesis and the notes associated with them. So here I go once again asking myself, “What is in my heart?” What is in my heart when I sin, when I do something good, when I interact with others, and when I go about my daily life and tasks and conversations? Did you know that a good deed can be considered sin? Yeah, if this good deed is performed outside the will of God or for the wrong motives, it is a sin. Wow! That’s something to think about. For example: Why do you give money to the church? Are you expecting a blessing in return? Are you trying to impress others because you give money every week? Are you giving without expecting anything in return? Are you giving because you love God and your church? Do you even care if anyone else knows about it or not? Thinking about those things, do you see how even your giving money to the church can become sin? If you give money to the church to bring profit or recognition to yourself, it can turn into a sin for you. There are other ways good deeds can become sin, but I am just throwing this out there for an example of what I am talking about. I can see this theme throughout the Bible as I read it. So remember whatever you do to check to see what is in your heart? One of my personal struggles is with my weight. I am an emotional eater. Food is such a big part of our society. I have just recently realized some things about my own relationship with food. I have lived with some false beliefs regarding it. The Bible says we should do all things to the glory of God. (Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31) Am I eating to God’s glory? That is a good question. How would Jesus shop for groceries? How can I glorify God in what I buy and what I eat? While pondering these questions and then some, it occurred to me that I have been mistaken. My parents taught me that you eat whatever is provided without question. If God provides you with junk (food), you eat it. Hmm! Does God provide “junk”, the same God who came to provide life more abundantly? Does a God who wants you to take care of the temple of the Holy Spirit not provide the “healthy and good” food to honor that command? We may have limited money to buy groceries with, but we choose to buy the junk because it costs less money then the healthy food. So I am working on my attitude and choices when going grocery shopping. I also need to work on continuing to make healthy choices when at home preparing meals, but it honestly starts at the grocery store. What is in my heart when I am walking down the aisles deciding what to buy? What is in my heart when I am pulling things out of the cabinet and fridge to eat? What is in my heart when I get that second serving of spaghetti I should not have and eat it? What is in my heart when I am struggling to do my exercise? These are questions I need to answer for myself. What questions do you need to ask yourself? What is in your heart? |
| I have been thinking a lot lately about what kind of legacy I will leave behind. I have known 3 people this week who have died, and a 4th one is going on hospice today. In a couple hours, I will be watching the funeral of one of them. I wanted to start a personal blog that I can share with others. I desire to share thoughts, feelings, personal beliefs, experiences, things I learn, opinions, and reflections on what I see in the mirror. As a Christian, my goal is to reflect the Christ in me so others can see him. I have a physical reflection and a spiritual one. This is a good place to examine myself and come up with solutions to fix the problems I see in myself. This is also a great opportunity to share things I learn as I walk with God in prayer and daily devotions. I can share Bible studies and write my own personal thoughts or devotions. I can write letters to the mirror and to myself or others. I can share my ideas or other things about myself. I can share all kinds of different personal reflections about countless topics. I hope you will learn and grow with me as a person and/or a Christian. I hope you will be encouraged, motivated, and inspired by what you read in my blog. I welcome comments, thoughts, and opinions as we journey through this life together. Today, I see my reflection in the mirror. What and who do I see? Physically, I see a woman. She is beautiful even though she has flaws. She is strong because she has been through a lot. She is able to smile in spite of the pain. She tends to try to hide her emotions even though sometimes they show on her face. She sees things she would like to improve in herself. She also sees things she must accept because she cannot change them. She doesn’t always like what she sees, but is willing to change the things she can. She knows what she wants to be. She is able to fake self confidence when she feels so very insecure about a lot of things inside. Spiritually, I see a woman who loves her God. She has committed sins she hopes no one ever finds out about. She has tried to set things straight with herself and others. She has judged herself harshly as have other people. She fights the voice that tells her she isn’t good enough or smart enough or strong enough or experienced enough or that she just isn’t enough. She also fights to be a good person even though the voice says she isn’t. She had hated herself for a very long time, even to the point of feeling suicidal. She has fought hard to learn to love herself and others the way Jesus loves them. She makes it a priority to spend time with God in prayer and devotion because she knows what it is like to live life without that relationship. |
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