The Second Promise to Women

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^“To the woman he said,“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;with painful labor you will give birth to children.Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16

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I want to us to look at this second part of Genesis 3:16 for a moment. You are probably wondering what I am going to say with verses in the New Testament are quoted. It’s not as bad as one might think. Please let us look at this, in a reasonable scripture context.

Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16 (second part)

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But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3 

Here in 1 Corinthians 11:3 is very clear the man is the head of the woman. This is another statement stating the obvious. Is this humorous?  If we look closely at the verses below carefully, women it’s not as bad as you may think.

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Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour.

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

and to present her himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:21-27

It is quite clear we need to submit to one another. To submit doesn’t give the man the right to rule with an iron fist or abuse. In the bible reference above it say’s for the man to love their wife. This means to listen to them, and after seeking God’s wisdom to then make a ruling. Then the wife needs to submit.

“But my man is wrong a lot of the time.”

ok he may be wrong.  First God will deal with the man. This isn’t your responsibility. He needs to learn by his own mistakes. If he loves you he will take time to think things through of whatever you have suggested to him during the discourse of a debate.

Next thing which needs to be considered is “God has a plan” He ‘God’ has brought you both together for a reason. God can stop any plan your man may have in the making. You need to trust the almighty God to deal with him when and if he is about to make the biggest mistake of his life.

Let me give an example: Your man has just injured his back. He is nearly recovered. Then he gets this awesome opportunity to apply to work as a truckie unloading heavy machinery. Because of shortage of money he bull headedly goes to the interview that could potentially change his life. But you know this is a very bad situation.  The only thing that is open and possible to you is prayer and your faith in God that he won’t land this job. He then comes home with his tail between his legs (so to speak) He is upset because now he is back to looking for another job. You have submitted to your man, but God has taken care of a bad situation that could have occurred through your faith and prayers.

You see God will bless your submission to your man. Men have a more of a responsibility, because if you love your wife as Christ loves the Church and gave himself for it, it is only then you have a sacrificial love for your wife. It is also then that decisions made together and the proper roles in the home are integrated that God can bless two couples together in the decision making of the home.

Yes, sometimes men we need to step up and make some serious decisions for our wife and family, but let us do it in love, not in an abusive way with an iron fist. 

But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,…1 Corinthians 11:3  NOT YOU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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God is Spirit

First, let me be clear. I believe God is a Spirit. I believe that Jesus by the authority of God sent His Holy Spirit to be in us once we believe in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross of Calvary for our sins past present and future. Also I believe we ourselves are mortal human beings. Jesus came to this earth as both God in the form of human flesh. We as human beings aren't little gods as some would believe.

Having said the above lets look at some verses that may cause us some concern in this area of God a Spirit and God coming to this earth through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ as a flesh and blood. Also in the old Testament (Old Covenant) are some examples when God took the form of a man.

Lets look in Genesis

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26

When God first made man and woman, they were without sin. God didn’t sin or has sinned. When the fall took place, man moved away from God and His fellowship with Him. As we look back on this, if we take this literally, I believe we were made in the image of God, only we have the sin nature because of the fall.

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. John 15:26

Here is God the Spirit In John 15:26. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is GOD (the trinity) the three in one. Because the Holy Spirit had already came from the Father (God) through our Lord Jesus Christ when John wrote the Gospel of John it is rightly said in John 4:2 that God is Spirit.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:2

God did produce himself in the promise statement of “Let us make man in our own image.” The “US” there I believe is God in trinity the three in one Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” This happened in the fiery furnace of  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego recorded in Daniel chapter Three. We see that four men appeared in the furnace not three. God appeared as a man.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (This verse KJV)

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, … Daniel 3:24-27

What do we then do with these verses regarding that God is Spirit and we were made in the likeness of Him. I want to take a simple view without getting tangled up in views that we may speculate on.

In Genesis it says we were made in the likeness or in His image. I Believe this can be explained in a literal sense.

 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Luke 24:39

The Later verse is also true. No the Bible doesn’t contradict itself. God sent His Son into the world in the likeness of man did he not? This happened because God had a perfect Holy plan that Jesus would look like us when He died on the Cross for you and me. This is also revealed In Isaiah fifty three

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

⁴ Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,and by his wounds we are healed.

⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6.

If God didn’t have a plan at the beginning in creation, then where would prophecy of Jesus be today?

This was also revealed in the burning bush that God had something for Moses to look upon that wasn’t safe for Moses to see.

⁴ And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

⁵ And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

⁶ Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

You can’t look on a Spirit. God Is a Spirit being without any denial from me. When we refer to God we more than likely are talking about The Holy Spirit Is the Holy Spirit God? Yes! Was Jesus God and man in human form? Yes! The Holy Spirit came from God through Jesus Christ before He left the earth.

 

 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth...John 4:24

Here is God in Holy Spirit form sent from God Himself, So then because we have the Spirit of God living in us we should worship him in “Spirit and in truth” of whom is God himself.

As He is God, if He so desired could turn himself into or turn something into what ever He desires. But He has chosen not to. The only thing He desires of you and me, is to be more like Him before we leave this earth.

God had a Holy plan for us to be His image, yet His Spirit abides in the believer. We are an image of what God wanted us to be. From the very beginning after the fall, had a plan of fulfilment of His Son coming to earth by HIs Holy will. He also had a plan to form us into an image that is pleasing to God. Now we must do our part and be transformed to be more like Him in our daily lives. We are always going to look the same on the outside as someone special that God has made, but we need to change on the inside to be more like Christ by the renewing of His Spirit in our lives daily.

I pray that God will reveal Himself to you today.

God’s Promise To Women.

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^“To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children….” Genes 3:15 (first part)

Stating the obvious sometimes can be fun. This verse has the intent of stating the obvious. This isn’t fun. There is pain in childbearing. Not experiencing it myself, I can only go on what has been told. Is pain in childbearing happening today? Yes! Is it happening in the Church age? Yes! Did it happen in the old and new covenant? Yes! Lets have a look.

Verses in the Old Testament (Old covenant)

“Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor.” Psalm 48:6

“At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.” Isaiah 21:3

“We have heard reports about them, and our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.” Jeremiah 6:24

9 “Why do you now cry aloud-- have you no king? Has your counselor perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?”

10 “Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you must leave the city to camp in the open field. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.” Micah 4:9-10

God, I am sure willing will allow me to get to prophecy later. But it is clear in the Old Testament (Old covenant) that the process of child birth women bore pain. God promised this to every woman including Eve.

Some New Testament Verses of the Bible is relevant to giving birth is pain for a woman.

“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.” John 16:21

Although painful for a woman to give birth, there is wonderful joy when that baby is born. Especially that first born. She forgets her pain because the Joy is so overwhelming.

“She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.” Revelation 12:2

Friends, it is obvious today women do travail in pain giving child birth. This was a promise given by God. As a father, I know the joy that was ours when we had both our Children. As fathers we need to respect what women go through to multiply on the face of this earth to make a difference to our world.

It is also recognised that in this age of Grace Christian, non Christian alike will go through pain in child birth. There is no difference between the Old covenant, the new covenant and the child bearing society we live in today.

Verses from the bible are quoted from the NIV New International Version 

Add other verses and quotes if you like in relation to this topic. Willing to be challenged. Author has the right to delete comments and challenges if so desired. Phil.

 

 

 

God’s first Promise

God fulfils His promises in Scripture and is revealed in the New Testament or New Covenant It is with a saddened heart that many will say it doesn’t apply because that was in the Old Testament or Old covenant.  I assure you that Satan is real today; he still lives on and proved He does in confronting moments in Jesus’ life.

In Genesis 3:14-15… God talks to the Serpent. 

14 The LORD God said to the serpent,“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

In Revelation 12:9… The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

The good news is that in the New Testament or New Covenant Satan is going to be destroyed.

 

Romans 16:20 …The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Colossians 1:13
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

My friends this is how he was defeated. We have been brought in the light of the gospel. This is how Satan was bruised. God in human form took our place on the cross and was bruised for our Iniquity.  When we come to know Him. We are His forever. John 10:29…  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

Because of  Jesus Christ God’s only son died on the cross for us, we are His forever and more powerful than Satan. 

1 Peter 2:24 …"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed."

 

Matthew 4:10,11  When Jesus was in the wilderness…

10. Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only,

11. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Let us then Worship The Lord our God and continue to defeat the Devil by the Holy Spirit in the age of the Church as the Old covenant  is revealed in the New Covenant which includes the Church.

John 16:11… and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Bible References come from NIV

I don’t know why

There is a lot of questions in life that come our way which we don’t understand. It is with grief and sadness when those have got something to offer for the gospel’s sake in church, or Christian service are not asked to do so. Sometimes we volunteer and still not accepted to do that which we volunteer to do.

A lady came up to me not long ago and had complimented me on the way I have brought up my children. They are mid to late teens now. My goal in life after marriage is to quality time with my children. This has been a joyous and growing experience. What if I was fully in the ministry? Would I be where I am today?

My job is almost done in raising children. What is my next task that God wants me to do? It would be great to share my walk with God over the years and the personal experience I have had with Him. Many times I can relate to Scripture in a very personal way. This is a privilege we have as Christians or those who know the Lord in a very personal way.

Paul in the Scriptures was a very intelligent man and a very intellectual scholar but what about those who have a genuine heart for God? Are we forced to sit in a rocking chair for the reason that God was committing us to a different task over some years..   I think not. I believe that the intellectuals need to let those who have a heart for Jesus in to encourage other believers in their Christian walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we go through this Christmas we may be thinking how the minds and hearts of man can be changed, so the Gospel won’t be hindered. We need to pray that the bars be taken away so the gospel cannot be hid by others.

God has a plan

We are nearing a holiday season when we can reflect on our hardships, blessings, encouragement and discouragement. I meditate on Pauls life when he said... "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Phil 4:12 I think I can speak of all of us when I say there have been times this year "I wish I had more" but in the times of need I have seen Gods grace at work. I guess you all have heard the song now "It's all about dat Base no Treble." Well, someone put up on their church notice board "It's all about dat grace no devil." And that's what it's about, His grace abounding on us. Some have gone through terrible things over the years and maybe this year also. He maybe want to teach us something special or prepare us for something great. Whatever the need and no matter what age you are. till your one hundred and twenty, God has a plan especially for you. Sometimes that plan is to protect us from the unknowing and we may not know until we we get to heaven why he alowed it. I have been praying for situations and circumstances which sometimes encumbers me with stress. Their are desires in my heart and life of which is on my heart and troublesome present. But God knows, so with His presence He reminds me of  contentment in Him. I have learnt to pray about those desires, which suggests to God I am happy with His plan in my life. I don't say all this to spill my circumstances or life problems on any one of you, but rather to encourage you all what has been on my heart and that is...God has a plan.

God bless. Phil

My Faith a Challenge.

Midst our Faith in Good times comes challenges. The question is do these challenges pull you up or pull you down? I believe it depends on our closeness to God. Some things in our lives God wants us to trust wholly on Him. I praise God for bringing me up in a way which pleases Him in my faith. God has given us more than what we could even imagine. He has overflowed blessings toward us because of our faith in Him. I heard a sermon about Abraham and Sarah recently. With Abraham and Sarah being so old and promised a son at their age, then the wait on top of that must have been agonizing for results of Abraham becoming a father of a great nation through his son Isaac. Then we might think of the very absurdity of God to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. There are those in the walk of faith that have forgotten how far we have come. Not only in our christian walk but also in our faith in God over His provisions.

But God has a plan. I say it again: Our "Wonderful" Saviour (He is called "wonderful" in the scriptures) has a plan for you and me no matter how old we are. Because we belong to Him. He brings us through things regardless of the wait for good things, so we can be more like Him. Abraham at his age taking his son which is believed to be "calvary" was going through a faith test. No we havn't reached the end of testing of our faith yet, but let us not forget from which we came. Sometimes there those who are now in a different situation expect us to be in the same sphere of their faith regardless if they have forgotten their faith tests or not. I wonder what would have happened if on the way to the place where Isaac was brought for the burnt offering if people grabbed him and forbade him to offer his only son? Faith needs to be carried out regardless of what others may have against what we are doing.

A message from Tammy

• A member on here sent me the sweetest email I believe I've ever seen & just in time
• I had posted my request in the prayer room
• Let me go find it
• Sister Tammy, In times as this, I think Philippians 4:6-7 is the cavalry in bringing light on the unknown spell. (6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, let your requests be known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen. Tammy, you have been the stalwart source of strength coming alongside many brothers and sisters at this site in their times of need. Now it's our turn to stand in prayer and supplication for you, our sister and friend. May the Lord God Almighty, in all His glory, shine the magnitude of His light and power on the dark and questionable corners of your world, resolving any issues which may be of discomfort to you and yours. The Lord bless you, and keep you. The Lord maketh His face to shine upon you, And be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.

My Dream a Reality

4 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet^[a] you do not have because you do not ask.

³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts,you double-minded.

⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

As I dreamed a dream the other night it brought me to a reality that resisting the devil is not as easy as it seems.
I dreamed this dream. I dreamed I was at the back door of the inside of our house. The door was open. For some unknown reason I had a stone in my hand. I through the stone from the inside of the house as far as I could down the back yard. After the stone was thrown I struggled to push the door shut. There was a resistance. I pushed and pushed with all my might until the door was slowly pushed with the preasure of the force behind it.

Bringing it to reality from the dream, resisting the devil isn’t an easy task. As we fight against the devil, it is going to be a continuous battle. This battle could be within our own being and heart. It could be in the will of other believers to be unkind. Or it could be from the world itself. The battle could be from the mail or internet. I have a little joke when I go to the letter box which consists of  “Does anyone love us or hate us today?” The reference being to bills as hate and other mail is that someone loves us.

We should not give the devil an opportunity to enter the door of our house, internet or our lives. If we are one that perpetrates devilish attitudes, we need to search with all our hearts to see if it’s right in the sight of God. We need to question ourselves would Jesus be doing this. The devil has no right in our lives, nor to give out anger and discomfort to other brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ our Lord. 


As my dream depicted, stones will not remove devilish acts but rather we need to shut the door on those things which are evil, though it be a struggle. May God help us in the name of Jesus through His divine Holy Spirit. 

The refresh button in relationships

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?¹⁵ What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believerhave in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them and walk among them,and I will be their God,and they will be my people.”
¹⁷ Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate,says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.
¹⁸ And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Can we press the refresh button in our lives?  Yes we can. Does this mean we need to divorce or not have a relationship with others because we have made mistakes? Mistakes and sin is from the sin nature. This tells us, we aren’t perfect. Taking this in consideration where do we need to start our refresh button to have a new start?

First we need not blame ourselves but recognize it as sin in our lives. We have an advocate who is Jesus Christ. “If we confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.  Forgiveness starts with us having a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is then we can have fellowship with God and others. We have been hurt, upset or our testimony nearly destroyed. Young people have broken relationships. Married people have their difficulties and hurts. Friends and relationships are torn by accusations. We need to be reminded that Satan is seeking those he can destroy, especially in relationships.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8.

We need not blame ourselves. for what others have done to us. In the real world a rape victim blames themselves. It is not until they realize they arn’t to blame that they can start to be healed and move on with their lives. Real forgiveness comes from God and He alone through His grace can interrupt the destruction Satan wants to do to our lives and relationships.
What does these verses tell us?

1. Let Jesus walk among you and let His Holy Spirit guide you,
2. Stay away from those that would hurt us until a spiritual fruity change happens and is apparent in our lives. 3.God promises to be a father to us as you let Him lead your life.

Our love will happen for those people who hurt us will be with us as we walk with Him. But the refresh button Happens with us.

I don’t deserve to be here

I don’t seem to do what people expect me to do. Their are those that want me to live and do what they want me to do. I am getting  tired of living in this world with others sin thrown at me. I can’t seem to do it right because everyone’s right is different to mine. What am I suppose to do? It is impossible to ask a question because others seem to think they are being accused of things. I am expected to be and do what others want. My sin is the same as everyone else’s yet my sin in their understanding seems to be larger than anyone else’s. I have been accused of acts of immorality that I never have done. accusation of lying has been thrown at me when I find they have lied to me. I find I need to fall into some kind of emotional blackmail so I can love them. My finance should be different in their understanding than what I feel it should be therefore I should live up to their expectancy. I have been accused of arrogance yet I find they don’t stop to listen. I find that others want to bring up the past when I was a kid yet now I am fifty-nine years old. My gained knowledge and experience doesn’t seem to amount to anything according to others.

FORGET IT!!!

I’ll do what God wants me to do. No-one has the right over my life. I would have been dead or punished if I’d been under the Old covenant. I am under the New covenant Saved by Grace In 1 John 1:9 it says “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and CLEANSE us from ALL UNRIGHTOUSNESS.

We should have Love in our hearts and our love shouldn’t be demanded from others. If others lie or throw their sin at me, be aware I will give it to the Lord Jesus Christ the Holy one, and let him deal with it. It isn’t likely I can be the sin bearer of your sins, only the Lord Jesus Christ can, therefore, I don’t need it and I will pass the buck to my advocate the Lord Jesus Christ.

Only in Christ I deserve to be here!!! I have much work to do. Glorifying attacks from Satan working through others will prove my faith in Christ. My past won’t hinder my belief and relying on Christ alone but will hinder a walk with God and the robbing of service to God in one’s life. 

Are you Born Twice?

In 1 Chronicles 1:5-27 and Genesis 11:10-26 We see a genealogy of people that were born fathered and died.

 ^“As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” Genesis 9:7.

The Genealogy for me is that people did multiply. Today women are still giving birth under that same instruction from the Lord to multiply. Birth is the most wonderful thing a parent can experience in their life.

It was Gods purpose after Adam and Eve sinned for the woman to give birth and the husband is to work the field. Today, we have all sorts of work for men and women. It still remains our responsibility to multiply.

It is also known, many have gone away from the instruction of the Lord. This is evident when God’s sacrifice of His son is not accepted. To accept God’s further instruction in our lives we must first accept Him as our Lord and Saviour for the Salvation that He wants us to have to meet him in heaven. We need to be born twice, first, the physical birth and then the birth born of His Holy Spirit.

1. Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

⁹ “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

¹⁰ “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹² I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. ¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John 3:1-21

The Rainbow of Promise

“The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.” Gen 8:21

^{13 “}I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶ Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” ¹⁷ So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth” Gen9:13-17

After Noah left the ark he built an alter to the Lord. The Lord smelled a pleasing aroma or scent coming from the alter. The blessing of the Lord came into a promise that He wouldn’t destroy man and creatures as he has done ever again.

I believe God wants to smell a sweet aroma from us. Not in a burnt offering because the Lord has already given himself as a living sacrifice on the cross. The sweet aroma He wants from us is our worship, service and thankfulness for Him regardless of our hardhsips. It must have been a bad time to see God destroy man and his creatures on the earth, but Noah still thanked the Lord for what he went through.

God set His rainbow in the sky as a promise He will never do it again. There maybe something we have gone through in our lives that hasn’t been the best of circumstances. Have we thanked our Lord for bringing these hardships in our lives? Noah did with his burnt offerings and God blessed him and the whole earth.

The rainbows of promise won’t come into our lives unless we first give Him the thankfulness of hearts as he much deserves. I pray that we will find our rainbow of promise that God is waiting to give us upon offering up thankfulness to Him for the hardships we have in our lives.

Drifting from the Heart

To the woman he said,

“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16

I have been reading “Cover to Cover Complete through the Bible as it happened.”

One of the very basic elements that has been placed in the heart of a woman to her husband is her desire to him and his rule.

In today’s world this very rule has drifted away by women opposing their husbands or the husband abusing the woman because it’s in the heart of men to rule over their spouse.

¹⁷ To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
¹⁸ It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
¹⁹ By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

Men we have a responsibility to provide food for our wife and family.

It is built in the heart of men to work. Because of sin, today, we have inherited this element in our own lives.

If everything was done in God’s order of instructions their will always be a perfect and peaceful relationship between husband and wife that can be emulated to our children. But we have this battle in our lives of trying to do the right thing. If we trusted God and His instructions we would have a sustainable and happy life in marriage and great relationship to our children.

²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ 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. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[b] her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[c] 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Eph 5:25-33

Paul here isn't only referring to marriage in the Church, but also the instructions of what God had said in the garden of Eden. I believe that Adam loved Eve. In reality as husbands we blame our spouse for our own mistakes. To take our own responsibilities as men we become God’s man for God’s glory.

Many times the success of a man comes from a loving and obedient spouse. You see, marriage relationships work in unison.

Men are to love their wives. Let us not abuse them because we have in our hearts to have rule over them.

We can’t blame the woman. If we parallel Genesis 3:16 to that of John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. we can understand that from child birth we all have sinned in the site of God.

We need to allow latitude of understanding that we all have sinned when men rule and wives submit. Let us all pray in Faith as we lead as men and wives submit. God bless.

A testimony of New Life.

I was saved when I was about ten years of age. Hearing the Gospel in my bedroom from my brother I believe Salvation by the Spirit of God had entered my life. Unfortunately what ever the circumstances were I don't know, but being brought up in a Christian home there still wasn't enough for me to have assurance of Salvation. Growing and thinking deeply till I was in my teenage life, I was invited to the Billy Graham crusade. All I remember there were hundreds of people there at a venue which looked like a football ground. I took the plunge to bring myself before God and committed my life to Him. 

Growing in stature and wisdom, I came across some challenges in the working life. There was something different about me. Everyone else around me looked like Aliens compared to my life and the way I looked to them was out of this world. Still going to Church, I intently listened to Bible teaching. I grew in knowledge and Faith. Having my character put in a dim light many times, I came to realize I have gifts to be used of God. I realized I have the gift of faith and helps. I praise God for his everlasting power to help me to conquer those negative acts of others in my Life in order to help me present myself as a dominate Christian.

Jesus is the Only Answer

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me John 14:6.

Watching a T.V show “Dr G,” I was horrified. The show is about autopsy’s of those who have passed away. Some deaths when she examines them are very unusual. Some people have died of accidents, over-dose, suicide or illnesses which nobody knew about.

With Dr G’s experience she didn’t understand why this particular lady would burn herself as a means of suicide. She took her car to a field and set her self alight with a cigarette lighter. She got in her car and drove home where her son found her moaning on the floor. Before her son found her she was able to dial 911.
Her reason for suicide  in her mind, she owned a business which went down and was struggling. Her husband had separated from her, but still loved her.

In  John 14:6 it say that Jesus is the Way, Truth and life.

I know most of us don’t know how much we can take or how this lady was feeling. Keeping this in mind, there’s no-one but Jesus. Businesses, and what we own, and even though I put a great price on marriage and children we should place our trust in Jesus’ life for our life. I know if this person found her way and the Lord Jesus as her rock and shield then things would have been different by having the light of God’s spirit in her.

People, don’t give up on life! Trust God, Christians we have the job and ministry of showing others the Way, the truth and the life worth living for the Glory of God.

Word of Encouragement-Happy New Year! from Julie Gorman on Vimeo.

Testimony through High Blood Pressure

This writing will be sent to others in an attachment but I thought it also would be good for the whole world to see. As you read this whole writing, you will find a specific, sharing, prayer request.
I was woken up early this morning with a thought in mind that I couldn't shake off. I believe it was the Lord speaking to me to write on a recent experience.

There are many things in our lives which we don't want to share. We have boundaries that we set up through life experiences or what God brings upon us through those experiences. Believing in the immediate family i.e. that which comprises of the husband, wife, and children, most boundaries are lifted except for those topics or knowledge we as parents may want to keep from our children. Even then our children grow up and the things we wouldn’t have told them when they were in primary school, we may tell them in secondary school.


Having said the last paragraph, we as parents want to live lives which in such a way we will set boundaries toward our parents and siblings. These boundaries are set in motion because of our experiences in life. We all have our own lives to live. We are busy in our own way. Some may have studies, some may be dealing with their own family issues, like my self with two teenage boys. Some may have issues regarding older family members. Whatever the situation we find our selves in, we cannot intrude on someone else’s life. Sometimes we may expect other family members to do something for us, but to explain why we can't do the very thing that is asked would be an intrusion on their lives. Many times a family member doesn't need to explain, and if they do, it needs to be volunteered by them.

Having said this, from the date of the time I wrote this, about a week ago, I went to the doctor. The doctor said “Phil we haven’t taken your blood pressure for a while;” It was high! He gave me a referral to have it monitored. Phoning them up they told me I wouldn't be able to get in for a month.

The next day, I went to the Chemist to get my blood pressure test done. It was more high. The girl assistant at the Chemist looked at me horrified. Then she told me what my blood pressure was; I was horrified. I phoned my wife and said I was headed straight to the doctor. After convincing them that I needed to see a doctor urgently; The doctor gave me some medication to tie me over till I could see my regular doctor. When I saw my regular doctor the blood pressure was still high. He then changed my medication differently and higher dosage. Would you believe at one time my blood pressure at it's highest was 198/167. After seeing the doctor again after a couple of days my blood pressure was 140/80. Yes we seem to have it under control.

You see, God and his grace has saved me. Yet, it isn’t my desire to share when I'm going through something, as this is one of my boundaries. Why? Because I want to share with others after going through God's grace and mercy. You see, we need to be careful as Christians how far we want to extract information out of others because we want something for some reason. We don't know what they may be going through. By letting others to be free by God's grace, we have the opportunity for them to share the blessings of God to others after experiencing the difficulty of life of which they endured.

I hope this testimony will help you to live a rich and fuller life in Christ Jesus.
Phil.

Are You Saved?

Propaganda and the “Titanic

In my childhood and growing up into manhood, I was always interested in the “Titanic” Although interested, I didn't ever follow the events through like some scientist have in recent years.

It has been said before the Titanic left the dock that “Not even God could sink this ship.” unfortunately I still have not been able to substantiate this saying, only to say, that it is inserted the “English” had made this remark.

Herbert Selpin was a man which was refused to enter the German army because of a medical problem with his leg which was caused by Polio. He wanted to prove his worth to the German constituents that he was worthy to fight the war of world war two. In his desire to emulate himself to be worthy of being a soldier, he went into film making the most expensive production of the day, “Titanic.” Herbert portrayed England as a nation of greed and extreme wealth and of material gain. This idea would enable Germany to fuel the war toward England not only for the German army but also for the civilians. During the production, Herbert Selphin was arrested because he was reported by Zerlett-Olfenius, his friend and co-writer, to the Gestapo, for calling a meeting of which he made comments which weren’t tolerable toward the Kriegsmarine officers. He was found in his cell of which is believe was suicide, but there have been speculation, he could have been murdered. In the end the film was believed to be completed by Werner Kingler.

The real facts of Herbert Selpin started out to be propaganda for the war at hand and to feed propaganda to the common people of Germany. This led to his own demise or destruction. Although German officials may have had ideas of their own regarding the war, It is also possible that Herbert Selpin contributed to the war to fuel the fire of propaganda.

Why all this information? It is a sobering thought that people in our own world of 2012 that we could be sharing propaganda to those around us. Wow! If there isn't enough evidence that one in history such as Herbert Selpin who fuelled propaganda, and caused his own demise and the emulation of thoughts to others in Germany, then what is?

I know from past experience, people can say words and pass on information which can hurt someone else and cause a war in their own hearts against another person. This may not only bring consequences to their own lives but also the demise of others that they may or may not know personally.

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth
Prov 26:20

1.From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2.Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
James 4:1,2

12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Matt 7:12

13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Prov 11:13,14

1Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Exodus 23:1

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity
Prov 21:15

Interesting note: The name “Titanic” could refer to “Titan” of Greek Mythology.

Some are Mixed Up.

There is a mix-up amongst Christians through messages and writings. It is my observation, we take what is said and apply it to others. Brother or sister in Christ, God's word is for you. Before I write or speak I usually consider myself first, taking this in our thoughts, the criticising finger should not come back at me. God has already spoken to me before I write. I cannot write pointing the finger with out first getting rid of what is in my own life or at least be dealing with it before a just God.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Matt 7:3

Taking this verse into consideration, you may say that there is things in my life which I haven’t dealt with yet. While this is true, if I can be blunt, It's none of your business. Why is this? God deals with us by the grace of God to perfect us to the day when we are called home to be with Him. Therefore what I write I try not to refer to an individual situation but rather from a variety of observations.

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:14.

It isn't a competition to see who is best in front of each other, but rather it is a mark which we need to aim for which is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 1 Cor 9:24

This is what I am aiming for. We shouldn't be sticking sticks and stones into each other or trying to trip them as we run. We are all running the same way with our faults and failures. Don't point the finger but rather make sure we haven’t got a beam or a log in our own eye which we need to deal with first. My prayerful concern from this writing and message to consider yourself and don't think of me as you ponder this writing but consider your own race toward heaven with God and don't divert to the path of mix-up.

Salty is showing Light

13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt 5:13-16

8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Eph 5: 8-21

I have been struggling with the reality of light and darkness in the believer in relation to finding scripture to back my thoughts. The reality is to be the very essence of a preservation which is lasting which results in lighting our whole lives for God and exposing the darkness which maybe in others.

We must realise to be lights to each other there must be an understanding that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23. I think though, we use this as an excuse to do what we want to do to others because God says that we all have sinned. We need to examine ourselves to make sure we are living in the light while exposing others who are walking in darkness, of a truth which may be basic to the Christian walk .

“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible.” This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Eph 5:1314

We need to wake up from our own sin. We need to face the reality that we are not like we are because we came from a gene from a relative or passed down from a family member. We are like the way we are because of Adam's sin. We need to follow Jesus, in his walk on earth by exposing sin, leading and rebuking when necessary. To bring someone out of sleep out of a darkness which is pronounced in someone's life is true love.

Before one can pronounce a sin by exposing an individual, we need to be careful of a false mind-set It is so easy for us to be wrong when dealing with exposing another’s pronounced sin. Yes, we need to be walking in the light; we need to be the salt of the earth

Can someone show your faults when they aren’t the salt of the earth or showing the light of Jesus in their lives? The answer I believe is emphatically; Yes! Why is this? God will bring someone in your life to show you a particular sin in your life, so that your light will show to the person who has endeavoured to correct your life. It is embarrassing but also effective to change your life to have our faults exposed by a non believer or someone who is walking in darkness.

Final thought: Exposing someone's fault is true love and will make you a better person.

Edify! Don’t throw Mud

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. Gal 6:7
Once Gal 6:7 was made clear to me many years ago, I have endeavoured to be careful about what I sowed. I also in my life's practice with Christ to always speak good of people. On failing because of my sinful nature I came across in my own life a need to come before God for repentance. I believe God forgave me because of my own ignorance in this sin.

During this endeavour of changing my own life before Jesus Christ it wasn't long before mud slinging (mud slinging is criticism against others which isn't true), took place and is still taking place today. Pointing out someone's fault which not only affects my very being and the Holy Spirit is grieved but also has hit barriers in my life's journey which seems impenetrable when pointing this very sin in other peoples lives. We just seem to not get it do we? We will reap what we sow and it doesn't matter if it is good or bad.


It is sad that even the unsaved know this principle in another way “What goes around comes around.” We need to take in of our own selves about what we want to sow. Some of my internet social networks have changed to share the Gospel and Scripture verses to the world over the “World Wide Web.” I Can't express deeply enough that those who know Christ need to change. Yes you! Oh, but what about me? God is working on me daily. Let's not apply to others what you should be learning yourself, rather me, you, we should put into practice what we learn to change others using our Lord Jesus Christ as the best example.


If I may, an illustration is relevant here in my life. Years ago when I was working as a cleaner, a daytime cleaner which was working in the complex left his rubbish trolleys in the way of the rubbish compactors and they were parked in the way of me getting my rubbish through as a night cleaner working for another cleaning business. Because I was so irritated by these trolleys being in the way, I started to tie them up with a piece of rope or string so when he came in the next day he would need to untie them. I thought this was funny, Yes, I thought it was a good joke. Then one night he saw me and though he didn't say anything about the trolleys, he started abusing me because from his point of view I wasn't leaving enough toilet paper in the disabled toilets. After defending myself, he took off into a rage into the building. A few years later, I was visiting a young lady which I knew in the psychiatric ward. God got my attention, there he was, the guy that worked with the trolleys; he couldn't speak but acted out the moving of the trolleys. After leaving there I was depressed knowing I may have contributed to the very fact he was there in the ward. After this, I asked God to forgive me. Don't get me wrong, there were probably other contributing factors related to his mental instability.
What did I sow? I sowed something that wasn't edifying by tying up this man's trolleys. You see, by sharing with others a person is going to reap what they sow is true love. But also what we do can be damaging to someone else.
Many non Christians and Christians know of this verse of scripture of which is at the very top of this page. Lets heed to the scripture because this is true love to show others that edifying is better than sacrificing your life which produces bad reaping.

A Tug-of-War

Edited from my first writing. Other early writings from my blog.
What Philip has learned

---

It is evident from the Bible to have an active sacrifice of the life we had, without the Holy Spirit, so we may have the Holy Spirit living inward and showing outward in our every day life.

In this life of knowledge I find some difficulty because there is so many right things which we can master in our lives which we want to give advice to help others. We can be trapped in our thoughts so vivid that we are doing the right thing only to find out or think, the very essence of the suggestion portrayed is not appreciated.

It is imperative for the one making a suggestion or giving advice is ready also to listen. Listening and speaking can’t be taken on the assumption on the knowledge of the person which a conversation or advice may take place. To be angry at someone for not adhering or to the one giving advice can lead to interruption of a negative nature to the other person.

Can we really have no interruption from Satan who can cause a rift or a split in families and friends? I don’t think so. This is where difficulty lies. It lies in the fact we have the old nature still within us and the Spirit of God is trying to tell us to do the right thing. It’s like a tug-of-war having the old nature pulling us on one end and the Spirit of God trying to lead us on the other end. We need to let go of the baggage which holds us back from winning the war with the flesh and trust in the almighty God, by reading the Bible.

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. James 1:18, 19

Ouch! I’ve Got a Headache

It wasn't long ago that my spam emails had gone, but what a headache!

It is suggested the word 'Spam' has come from a skit from Monty Python of which Monty Python flying circus was created. A sketch of 'Spam' meat was the subject of the skit. Embedded in the script was a repetition of the product name of 'Spam' and even Spam and Eggs. In the skit there was an actor that didn't want Spam.

Ok, why mention where the word 'spam' came from as related to emails? The fact that they are repeated over and over in our emails, of which very few want in there home or business. They lend to the script of Monty Pythons 'Spam' sketch.

Understanding Monty Pythons sketch as I listened to it, it is no wonder a headache comes to the ears of the listener.
Yes, I am sick of spam emails. I got numerous emails over and over again about the untruthful fact there is money waiting for me from a beneficiary. Not only these, but emails followed that there would be compensation for those receiving such emails. Of course, these were spam as well.

I started to tell my family, if someone was that eager to give me money, then why not just post it to me. I could do with it being on a pension. I then started to send them back to my internet provider, blocked them and then deleted the email. Now instead of numerous emails, I am getting less than ten a day.
It is no doubt, had I responded to sending my details it would have cost me money and could have destroyed my family.

Pondering on what may have happened, came across my mind that the evil one, Satan is out to destroy. One of the ways he is doing this is through the internet and the family.
My encouragement today is to walk circumspectly.

“Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matt 10:17

Odd Aliens

Looking inward, we see the life we once lived. It could be regarding time and the era we were brought up in, or it maybe the change which has conquered our lives. Whatever the life we once lived, it is apparent that odd things are seen or spoken that takes us by surprise in the present tense of life.

If the past could look back at us, I wonder what it could say or think of the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the working life, the home life , and of course technology?
Going through family photos and how Grand parents dressed and looked years ago, I entered into another world. It seemed to me a world of which if the images could come alive and talked and thought, we could be labelled as outlandish Aliens.

Yet we look at the images with not much thought about what they wore or talked like. We tend to think the clothes and the life style is something that should never had been in existence. Ideas of life and life style change from year to year and era to era, but Jesus never changes.
If we had a true photo image of Jesus that came alive and he could see us through that image, I wonder if he would think about the clothes we wore, our facial features, modern life styles or will he see our inward

appearance? He wouldn't look on us as some outlandish alien but rather he would see us as forgiven and on our way to Heaven to be with Him. This can only be if we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives.

Sorry! We don't need an image of Jesus alive for Him to see what we're like; He sees our inward appearance now.

Firm Heart Implantation

We all grow up don’t we. Yet we touch peoples lives for one reason or another in which we have not communicated with for many years. It is expected during the renewed friendship, we are the same people as we have been in the past.

To our amazement we seem to not able to recognize the change in them and the change from them to us that has taken place over the years.

What do we do? We tend to try to treat each other as immature, Irresponsible, and other attributes of sin we could think of.

What is the remedy for this? A person can’t do the implantation of your new self without God. Most times we need to step back and be silent and do what the Bible says “Be still and know that I am God.” You cannot implant your new self into another person because they already have a mind set of what you were like maybe years ago.

Another unfortunate problem is we try too hard. We either become complacent or we don’t trust the other person because of our mind set that has embedded in our minds and lives from the past.

Where is God in this? We can easily tip the scales either way to complacency or complete distrust. I suggest we stand firm in the centre of the balance to give God a chance to work in the lives of both on each side of the balance.

Standing firm in Christ is the only answer. We should not be swayed by Satan in either direction of complacency or full distrust in the other person. Both are a sin as our Trust should be in the Almighty God, Son and the Holy Spirit that live in our lives if we know Him.

As we trust our Lord, trust without sin can take place between two people or a party of people and even a congregation, in a group or a Church. Following the Lord by being firm in him will renew our relationship with others by renewed implantation which only God can do.

Be still and know that I am God psalm 46:10

Lest I forget You

“Lead me to Calvary”

“Lest I forget Getsemene;

Lest I forget thine Agony;

Lest I forget thy love for me;

Lead me to Calvary.”

The above chorus of “Lead me to Calvary” is such an old song. But as I pondered today of this special day “Anzac Day, I couldn't help but note the fact in my mind, the comparison thought between our Soldiers at war who died in battle and the selfless cross Jesus bore for the whole world.

Yes the Soldiers fought for our country and well deserving should be honoured, for we have them in our hearts as we go to the “Dawn Service” and the “Anzac Parade.”

But shouldn't we just stop for a moment in our busy lives to think about our Lord and the punishment He took for us by saving us, so we might receive His life in our hearts by believing in Him and accepting His Holy Spirit to be in our lives.

Our Soldiers honourably saved our country. Our Lord can save our lives from destruction so we may live for eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

A Prayer you can say:

Oh Lord just as we remember our Soldiers and what they have done for us, help me to remember you by accepting you into my life. I believe what you have done for me by dying on the cross for my sins. I ask for your forgiveness. I ask now that your Holy Spirit to come into my life today.

2011 Easter Encouragement

Forgiveness through Personal Experience.
An Easter message.

Written in http://easternchristmas.blogspot.com/ & http://allforjesus-4.blogspot.com/

What God wants God gets. I wonder what we allow God to do in our lives and I wonder what advantage is overtaken us by others?

We are so busy trying to defend talk, and what people do to us, we tend to forget that God wants what we are defending. But then we are hit with a problem of wanting God's will in our lives.

Others think they can do what they like to another, taking advantage of another persons Faith and trust in God, just to see if that person is for real with God.

Forgiving one another takes humility and sometimes taking a beating from others in verbalization and acts that one might do against us.

When this happens we can land in Spiritual pride and say “look at me.” We may be humble for a while and as time goes on the hurt starts to fester in our lives. Or we could wait on God and be blessed of God through his rewards in this life and the life that is to come, in heaven.

Does this excuse what the person has done to us, either by the attitude, “We will see how he or she fairs with this one,” i.e. a deliberate act, or by revenge on something we may think they have done to us?

What if we were to do that to our Lord? Whoops we did. “If thou be the Christ come down off the cross.” Did this not happen to our Lord? We are doing a deliberate act when we do it to God's people. We are tempting our Lord to come down off the cross and being used of Satan.

God's people will be blessed through Spiritual, emotional and physical needs. We need not defend God's will as He will bless us in time and we do not need to do things to others just to see how the other person relies on his or her God.
God is not going to bless in an unforgiving, tempting, or revengeful Spirit, but we will be blessed in time, when we have a right heart right Spirit and the prayerful help to keep our lives in check.

At this Easter time, we need to have a grip and understanding of God's forgiveness through our Lord dying on the cross, not only for the present of His day but it was for past, present and future for all people.
He was buried and rose again and then ascended to Heaven. He then left His spirit for those who wanted Him in their hearts.

When we are unforgiving, the Spirit grieves and it affects our Lord and the inner person. Just like when we accept the Lord, we need to ask His forgiveness, so, we also need to ask the forgiveness of others. Just like our Lord when he does not expect an acceptance, neither can we from another. Just as it is a new life when we accept Him as Saviour, So will it be new life to us when we accept another persons forgiveness.

I wrote this in view of things that has happened in my Life. As I have learned to forgive in humility and let God work things out, has been testimonial to my life.

Bro Phil

Less than Sixty Seconds

One weekend, I decided to go camping. I slept soundly that night. Waking up in the middle of mist and fog early in the morning, I stumbled across a figure among the mist, which looked like a man.
“What do you want?” I asked in fear.

“You are so selfish. You have not done the things I have required you to do. I asked you to give of your self and you didn't do it. The man down the street you met you could have witnessed to, died this morning without Christ. What about the severe accusations you made against the brother at church? Just because you have had a bad time, you took it out on him. You have hurt a child of God. To be scared of the Lord coming because you want to do more in this life is selfish. You should love His coming. Your lack of interest teaching others has gone by without any thought to how you could be a blessing to others. I'm so sorry but I can't give you any rewards.”

“Wait a minute, am I supposed to be in Heaven.”

“Oh, You are at the judgement seat of Christ.”

As I started to pray to ask forgiveness of all the things I was to doing wrong, I suddenly heard a big rumble.

“What is that:?” I asked quickly.

“Oh that! That is the dead in Christ rising from the graves and going to heaven.”

Weeping, thinking I had missed out on those things I should have been doing. I started to feel the shaking. With tears in my eyes, I woke up seeing my friend standing over me.

“What's wrong?” he asked with great concern.
I put my hands on his arms and told him I had to go out for a while to put things right with those I have neglected and hurt.

It is going to be in a twinkling of an eye when Jesus comes and we won't have a minute to put things right with those we have done wrong.

May we answer this question in our hearts... What is our lives like right now?

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things DONE IN THE BODY, according to what He has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

This Story is fictional with a very true meaning.

The Tour of my Life

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It was a wonderful day yesterday when I had the privilege of going with the year eight students on their History excursion. As the guide who loves the Lord took us on a Mountains tour and the history behind the convicts and the roads they endeavoured to build.

At one place in the bush, he showed how they made a box bridge using the sandstone and rocks that were their as a foundation to build on.

As we toured, we went to the most beautiful scenery that I have ever seen. Being scared of heights that I always had been, I went towards the fence with my arms out in front to look down. While I gazed upon the tops of the trees many miles/kilometres down, I was so thrilled that I was on top of the land of which I knew I was firmly upon a rock. Looking to the right of me was a huge waterfall tumbling off the top of the mountain pouring down to the bottom of the trees below of which was obscured by the massive view of the top of the trees.

Taking it in breathlessly I looked over to the left, I viewed a massive rock face structure. Being slow to rejoin the year eight group and the guide, I reluctantly pulled my self away from the view I was richly enjoying.

We continued the tour to go to a cricket oval. I wondered what was the value in this after seeing such a glorious view of what God has created. Then we listened to the story written below:
“On Monday 2nd November 1931, the Six Hour Day public holiday, a special cricket match took place at Blackheath between teams representing the local community and the Pottery Cricket Club from Lithgow. Organised by the Blackheath Municipal Council, the event was used to christen the newly installed malthoid wicket, the first of its kind in the Western Districts. The Test players Wendell Bill and Don Bradman, then aged 24, were specially invited to represent Blackheath in the local team.

Few in the crowd could have known what a memorable match it turned out to be. ‘The Don’, in his own words, “had a day out” and what a day it was! In one three-over period, in which he faced 22 balls, Bradman hit 10 sixes, 9 fours, a two and 2 singles, running up what was probably the fastest century ever scored. He was finally caught on 256, an innings that ensured a Blackheath victory.”

As I listened to the amazing story of this cricketer, Don Bradman, I thought about the relaxation and the enjoyment he got playing this game. It is to my understanding, Don got out for a duck in the next game he played in Sydney.

Going back to the school, I thought our tour was over. To my surprise there was more to come. Because the school is placed in the mountains, the tour guide along with the teacher and students took us into the bush. With the teacher in front to cut some brush away to make the path easier, I noticed a man made wall on the left of me. When we stopped the tour guide explained we were standing in the location of the old girls school and the man made wall was the foundations of the old school that got burnt down about a century ago.

The day over we were left with our thoughts and the school kids their homework.

Thinking about the bridge, I pondered over the crossing of circumstances in our lives and there is always away to the other side. Looking down to the tops of the trees, I thought about how some things may seem afar off in our lives but it can be still in our vision. Looking at the waterfall I had a glimmer of a thought that Jesus is the water of life and we need to drink from it. Gazing at the rocks I knew that Jesus is my rock and the rock of all ages. Understanding the story of Don Bradman, he kept his eye on the ball to score just over a century until he took his eye off the ball in the next game. Seeing the foundation of the old school reminded me that Jesus is the foundation that we need to be firmly on even though the wood is burnt down in our lives, He will still stand firm.
Quote from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_mountains_library_local_studies/4680010673/

Why did you Eat

It is often said “I wonder what this year, week, and sometimes day will bring?” The thought comes to mind about what kind of day it is. The day could be thought of as a negative when we ask the question to ourselves or orally as we think about the past we so horribly experienced.

If we had experienced life's troubles in various forms, it is meant to be for our own good. We don't like what had happened to us, but it seems to stick in our minds as a hurtful ailment in our lives.
Starting a new day as the beginning of the rest of our lives becomes a knife in our back, so to speak, when others remind us of those things which we may or may not have done is spoken of again.

In Genesis chapter three, when Adam was asked why he ate of the fruit, he blamed the woman. When eve was asked by God why she ate of the fruit, she blamed the serpent or the devil. Because the sin of blame was there at the beginning, then it is not at all surprising that it's going to be a huge problem in our lives.
How we deal with this problem of various forms, remembering that the devil is the accuser of the brethren, is entirely our responsibility. Then I wonder if some things should be left unsaid and not thought of by a brother or sister in Christ.

Having a week full of misery through the thoughtlessness of others can have a devastating affect on our lives. God made both women and men differently and with each different personalities of which I have much respect. In an up-side-down world of today there is the view of some that women are in charge and like to take control.

God gave everyone their gifts according to their own ability. Let us use them in the Spirit of meekness and fear.

It was a bad week when Adam and Eve ate from the tree in the garden. In-so-much because of sin and blame, it has affected the history and the future of mankind. When we are accused or blamed of things we didn't do, I wonder how that affects us in relation to the weeks to come, in our lives? And how does it affect the accuser? We need not make it a bad week for ourselves by heeding what Satan commands.

Night Chills

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Time progressed slowly when I was young, as some of us may recall. We would remember our going to bed and saying “good night” to our parents or guardian. I remember that my bed was tucked in so tightly with sheets and blankets I could hardly get into it. I know now beds were prepared this way in the era I had grown up in. Or, was there some other reason that I did not know about?

During the quiet of the night while the rest of my family were asleep, I would pull the top sheet and the blankets out from the bottom of the mattress. After being free from my tightly tucked bed, I would then go to the bottom of my bed head first, and see if I could turn around in a circle underneath the bed linen and blankets without going over the edge of the mattress. Every morning my sheets and blankets were on the floor. It was thought by my parents that I had nightmares.

Looking back it doesn’t seem long before I became a young man and left home. This was not easy. I had thought that I could change a lot of things in my life and I would be free; just like I was free from the tight bedding at home. It wasn’t long before I bought myself a digital clock and a quilt. My sleep became very restful because of my very own quiet clock, and a quilt.

One night, years later, I had an experience which I will never forget. It was a cold night and was in bed with my new wife.
(You know what’s coming don’t you. Well, you can just wait for the rest of the story!)

Thinking I was under the warm quilt I woke up very cold. Weary eyed, I looked over to the other side of the bed to find my honey rolled up in the quilt. I looked down at myself thinking that there maybe something over me, but shivering away there was nothing to be seen.

Not being able to move the quilt, “Are you quite warm, Hon?” I asked in a shivering voice.

“Yes.”

There was a silence for a while, when a question came. “Have you put the garbage out?”

“No! I am not going out in the cold. I am cold enough without the quilt over me.”
“Ok.”

At this point I had three choices. The first choice was to get angry and pull the quilt off her. The second was to wake her up, which I didn’t have heart to do, or third, was to speak with her in the morning. However, for the night, I laid there like a good husband.
Folding my arms and curling up trying to keep warm, I dozed in and out of sleep for the rest of the night. I woke up before her at day break.

(Now you are starting to get interested aren’t you?)

I got dressed into some warm clothes, and made myself a cup of coffee. While sitting drinking it in the kitchen my Hon woke up and came in.

My voice cracked. “Did you have a good sleep Hon?”

“Yes, I did. What about you?”

“No I didn’t; you had the quilt all night.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“I did; I asked if you were warm enough and you said ‘yes’, and then you asked if I put the garbage out.”

At this point my loving husband attitude had gone and she noticed it.

(I have your attention now!)

Well the “debate” went back and forth of the occurrences through the night as you may imagine. Then, she said something that changed the situation around.

“I honestly don’t remember talking to you, or asking you about the garbage.”

Realizing what had happened, I knew that it was time to reconcile with her. She was so upset I knew that my tender loving care had to come back.

It was a wonderful experience to forgive each other, and we still laugh at this experience we had that night.

I will always remember the joys we had when we were growing up and the well tucked in nights that we once enjoyed and we will always cherish the experiences of marriage as we grow to be more like Christ, forgiving one another.

(What happens with our quilt now? Not telling!)

Sickness in the Heart

During my working life with you I have seen all types of media telling their story regarding wars and major events in the world. I have spent my time in trousers, shirts and even on a bed side tables. I have been able to put my own slant on stories gathered around the world. Having money in my pocket has been exciting to gather. When the day ended, I was jammed full.

With a lot of thought, I have been able to select an amount of money to publish what I wanted to share. I have been able to report about the devastation and starvation of children.
The company I work for is grateful because I have earned so much money.

Everything will be okay. The public will have fund-raising events. With this help and without my help, everything will be apples.

Oh no! Not another phone call. It’s singing that same old song “Give them all to Jesus.” I'm going to bury myself deep so I don't hear that annoying song.

“Hello,” a robotic voice blurted on loud speaker.

“I have got to hear this!”

William leapt to see.

“Yes, we have a job for you to report on a story, in a faraway land. Would you like to go? “

A hand went to grab me.

“Again, I can make more money.”

“You will have to share a room.”

William was in doubt about sharing a room. The two men climbed into their separate beds. On the other side of the second bed was another like me on the table.

“Hey, you there, I feel sick,” William whispered.

“No wonder,” said Peter, “Look at yourself, you are so packed full, you will have to give some of that money away.”

“Oh no, I couldn't, I need it to earn money for our company. Anyway, I cannot give money away. Now you have made me sicker.”

The phone rang at that very moment. “Give them all to Jesus” it played.

“Oh be quiet, “said William, frustrated. “

Hello,” Spoke a stern voice.

“Yes, there has been another tragedy. People cannot get through on the roads because of a land slide. Children are without food.”
Oh no, they want money from me again. I am not going to. Anyway what has Jesus got to do with it? William thought, quite disturbed.

The phone hung up. William was so disturbed; he felt sicker. “Oh no; what am I going to do.”

“Do you want some help?” Peter asked.

“You see William, the problem is not just being sick, it is because you look so guilty and you know that there is something you must do.”

“Oh thanks very much, I don't need you to tell me,” William said, obviously offended.

“It is a heart problem. You see when you are nice, soft and ready to give what God wants you to give; then, you will feel better. You do not have to give everything, unless God directly says you should. Opening your heart to him and let him be the judge how much you can give will help your release and the enclosure you find yourself in.”

The next morning, the man that owned William, brought a new wallet with him. Because Williams’ heart was soft and was opened the money went into the new wallet.

William had become New William. The old William had gone. It was thrown out into the trash can.

Peter saw it. He jumped for joy.

“What happened?” Said Peter to new William.

“Oh, I kept on thinking about that song “Give them all to Jesus.” “The words of the song were going around in my head. I realized I had been hanging on to a lot, not just my money but also my heart to Jesus. I prayed for Jesus to come into my heart. Now I have a new life. I am a new William.” He said with happiness in his heart.

“Oh, that is so wonderful New William.” The two men picked up Peter and new William. They left for the landslide to see how God could use them.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV