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

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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

---

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

---

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

Words Cannot be Altered

 

I got Tenth place for this writing in a writing competition

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:6 KJV

I guess these are strong words; nevertheless they are words that never can be altered.

A fire can destroy property and ruin one financially even to the point where one needs to move. When we compare this to the tongue that it can set something alight, it can ruin a person’s life in the community.

The Tongue can give a devastation of reputation. The Tongue can leave ashes or things in that person’s life that cannot be repaired.
Photos and personal belongings can be destroyed by fire, as so with our tongue set on fire to ruin ones life and destroy the photo image of one’s reputation.

Satan wants to destroy people’s testimonies not only in churches but in the community so that churches even believe the supposed wrongness that was started by the fire of the tongue.
I was in a Church at one time I thought was right for my Children and myself. The Word of God was preached and I did not have a problem.

Much to my dismay, I was called to a meeting with the Pastor and two other “mature” Christians. Without going into too much detail, I was accused of an unruly act. Not only was this act against the Word of God the Bible, it was also against morality.
Of course the act that I was accused of, I could never do. The rumour got around the small church so bad that I had to leave. This little fire nearly ended our marriage, as we were so distraught.

After a time, I looked up the internet to see what others have done in a similar situation. Yes, with no surprise, some had ended their marriage. Some had moved to a faraway State. And some had even left the country after having such a false accusation done to them.

How big is the tongue of iniquity? It is world size. It is a world size of darkness; evil; immortality; injustice; unfairness and wickedness.

The tongue defiles the whole body or it pollutes the whole body. We have heard much about pollution in this expanding world. We learn over the TV and News media, how we need to clean up pollution. Yet there is not much said about cleaning up the defilement or the pollution in our lives from the fire of the tongue.

If we have a real fire and there were chemicals near by; the air would stink. So do our lives when we defile the whole body and others with our tongue.

The words of the tongue can never be altered weather in beauty or as a fire that could destroy a life.
An affective prayer I have used before.
So let us pray.

Father in Heaven; forgive us this day if we have used our tongue in an unwise way that could have destroyed someone's life. I pray for that person and that he or she will ask God for His wisdom and to guide them in the way that would be pleasing to you. I also ask that you would forgive me for saying things that I should not have said and ask that you will teach me to ask of you what I should say before I speak. I pray this in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ amen.

Note: This writing was inspired by another of my writings but different.

Feeling Alone

A True Story

I was working with a Christian company when I was in my twenties. A sum of money was given to the employees at one Christmas for the sole purpose to give to a missionary of our own choice. I asked my boss about a missionary that he would suggest, to give my donation to.

My heart was in it. I sent the cheque with a kindly letter stating this might help them get back to the mission field. With this correspondence, I thought I would get a thank you letter from them.

On my way to work for a night shift, I quickly retrieved my letters from the mail box. I instantly opened it and read it. My mouth dropped, my heart sank as I read it.

Not remembering now what it said, in a nicely handwritten letter, the content revealed how nasty and how unthoughtful I was supposed to be sending them the letter and the money, because I had no intentions of continuing support.

Feeling alone with disappointment and heart broken, I threw the letter in the bin. Dragging my feet, I continued to go to work with a gloomy heart.

Maybe being a bit more mature, I could have found out what the problem may have been. I certainly did not mean to hurt them in anyway. Whilst I did not feel guilty or in my mind cause the problem, I prayed for them.

What we do or our reaction to things may not be important to us, but they may be important to others. Sometimes we do things not knowing what we do, can hurt another.

Reaction from others may not stem from what we have done. The reaction could be what someone else has done or what they think has been done to them.

My reaction of throwing the letter away may have been an immature thing to do at the time. It could have been what God expected me to do, so He could do what he wanted for their lives.
We can learn from our mistakes and become the person that God wants us to be. At the same time he can deal with the person that we may have had correspondence with, even if we have lost contact.

We need not feel alone. God knows what he is doing.

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. Ps 86:10 KJV

Speaking with our Lord Aright.

Speaking with our Lord aright
If I had a conversation with our Lord face to face, I wonder what it would be. Would I tell Him about what somebody else has done to me? I wonder if it would be about what I did for someone else.
It is amazing today how often we say things about others. The amount of misunderstanding in conversation that happens between two or more people is staggering.
Would we discuss the love that we have for our Lord? That would go against man’s nature.
A love one killed by some kind of accident might be a topic to talk to Him about. Maybe we would ask him, Why did you do it Lord? That would be hard to ask a person that question let alone our Lord. Yet there may have been times when that question has already been asked.
A natural disaster has happened the day before we spoke to our Lord. A house is lost, a child dies, or hundreds of lives destroyed. Would we be game enough to ask our lord “why” face to face?
Yet, complaining and asking our Lord is done on a constant basis in our thoughts, our deeds in talking with others, and even in our prayers.
May be our prayers are not answered because we do not give him the praise He deserves. Maybe we are talking or thinking behind his back. Or even discussing what is unnecessary with others.
It remains our responsibility to talk to him in prayer and to others the same way we would talk to him in person face to face.
People get hurt when they find out that what they have said is behind someone’s back. I wonder what our Lord may think. Our blessings, prayers and fellowship could be hindered because of it.
Think about it. Would we want to be hospitable and have conversation with someone who was talking behind our back all the time? I think we would lose fellowship with that person quickly or even instantly.
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23

Salt of Life or Salt of Sin

TITLE: Salt of Life or Salt of Sin
By Philip Barrington
30/08/10

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“And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Matt 16:3.

Many times we have heard that the Lord is going to return soon. I believe He is. I myself want to meet Him in the air. In 1 Thess 4:16:18 it says: “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Not knowing all the ailments of this world that point to the coming of our Lord, I still love to hear about those things that should discern us.

As a believer in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, I see that things are so backwards in thought, and actions of those in the world and who are active in sharing principalities and powers
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6:12.

We can surely see the wickedness of this world and relate it to the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”Matt 24:37

Oh how we can relate to Noe’s day with what is in this world today. With wickedness in high places or authority has this world in disarray.

Even if we do not understand all that is written in the Bible about Israel and those things that are happening to His chosen people. We all can understand that evil is getting worse in the world in which we live.

What, do we not know the event in the Bible about Lot? There was so much wickedness in the plain where Lot was living. So much so that even his family was directly affected.

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Luke 17:28-30

From history and Bible knowledge, we do not need to look very far to relate it to the Lord’s coming. It is so evident and obvious that the World is in so much wickedness that it would be hard not to think that the Lord’s coming is emanate.

When my Kids were young we were out having a picnic lunch with some church folk. Only being thirteen months apart, one of my boys said to me: You know Lots Wife. I said yeah in anticipation what could be coming. He continued, well, you know when we put salt on our food, we are really putting Lots wife on our food. Of course I laughed.

When we really look at what my boy said up close. When we look back to our sin and do what sin is suggesting. Then we are really consuming the world and all of its wickedness. Oh, it may enhance flavour in our lives, but just like Lot’s wife she became part of the earth when she turned into a pillar of salt so shall we become part of the world’s wickedness when we participate by involving ourselves with the sin of the world.

Can we as Christians discern the wickedness of the world and look for our Lord’s coming? Or is it possible that we might fall into the trap of the world’s ideas and be a part of it so we are not recognised by Spiritual standards and diagnosed as hypocrites?

KJV Bible

Endless Debates

Phils notes on 1 Timothy 3-4

3. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

4. Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

“As I besought thee to abide, still at Ephesus….” Timothy was left here at Ephesus by Paul.

Paul wanted Timothy to emphasize to the Church at Emphasis to teach no other doctrine than the doctrine of Christ and the Apostles Doctrine. The doctrine needed to be that of scriptural truth.

Paul had the spiritual maturity to know that there may have been some that had doctrine that did not meet with spiritual standards. Because it was some that seem to be the most danger; Paul wanted Timothy to carry on for a while. Paul wanted to make sure that no other doctrine was introduced.

Paul had know the possibilities of fables or things that were untrue. Paul thought it not profitable for these fables to be told.

Paul was very thorough as then he was keyed into the fact that there were genealogies that were endless and had no need in the house of God. There were private and public genealogies of the Jews which showed what tribe they were. And weather they were Priests or Levites. This Cause debates and questions that was not profitable for the Church.

“…rather than godly edifying, which is in Faith.”

It is evident here that it was Paul’s intention to build up the people in the faith and he had the full intention to do so through Timothy. The people of Ephesus needed to be encouraged to have a Godly and enriched from the Doctrines of Christ and those things Paul had Spiritual discernment.

It is important to note that Paul was not against the Biblical genealogies such as written in the Bible today but there were unimportant genealogies that had became a debate and wasting of time of which could of and should have been put into building each other up.

There are many today who will go into endless debates in Churches which I find quite disturbing. Examples of those debates are: Is the Holy Spirit a He or a She? Or Should women be preachers in a Church?

As with Paul’s instruction that is most agreeable by me, we should measure those things which seem debatable with scripture. Paul had many things to say in his writings. Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Timothy and Titus. To save writing I know there are more.

In the day of Paul, He saw that there were problems in the Church and there needed to be some guidance to sort those things out. I wonder what he would think today in today’s world and Churches.

Nevertheless, these writings and instructions became a big part of God’s Word. Since Godly instructions are in the Bible than it should be followed. I guess, then it comes to the question well, if we did everything in the Bible at all times, we would then be sinless.

So what part of the Bible should we do away with? None is the answer. God wants us to be conformed to the image of His Son. As issues in our lives and the understanding of what the Bible says come our way we should listen and contemplate weather or not we are doing the right thing or not. Importantly in church, when we gather to worship Him.

It is important that we build up each other. Let us not fall into the trap of endless debates but encourage one another to examine the Scriptures.

KJV Bible

Gills Commentary

Eye Sight, My Sight and His Sight

TITLE: Eye Sight, My Sight and His Sight
By Philip Barrington
07/27/10

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Note of interest

The word “see” is recorded in the KJV Bible in five hundred and forty nine verses. To have this unique ability to see is a truly needed attribute to our bodies.

You see, this is my Story

Seeing partially because one may have eye problems is disturbing. Thus my story of seeing problems I have had.

From about the age of twenty one, I complained that I could not see properly. With great concern I went to the optometrist to have my eyes tested. With much correspondence they agreed to send me to another eye doctor to investigate my eyes.

After examining me they told me to read under a bright light. Having done this for quite a while, I was still having problems to see.

Marching myself back to the Optometrist, I had my eyes tested again. After my eye test, he told me that I did not really need glasses but there is a slight problem with my vision. I could wear reading glasses if I wanted to.

Opting to wear reading glasses, I struggled because sometimes I did not know where I put them. Well, you know how it is. So reading became a less of a problem.
Only to See the Dirt

Struggling through life as a cleaner, many times I had to get close to the object of cleaning, especially when my boss yelled at me to show me where it was not clean. It was difficult to wear reading glasses while cleaning. For many years, I changed my reading glasses every two to three years.

You See, More Health Problems Found

Receiving an injury to my cervical spine at work, quitting my job was the only option.
In time I moved to the Mountains. During my time here, the pain in my lower back got worse.  Having more scans on my lumber spine, the doctors found that I had a hole in my spine. Goodness knows how it happened.

You See, I needed to see

Also during my time here in the Mountains, I found that I needed bifocals. Wearing them for a couple of years, my eyes seem to have got worse.  I went to the Optometrist. After having the test, I could not pay for my new glasses. I carried on with the glasses I had.

Within approximately, six months, I went back to the Optometrist to have another eye test done. After the eye test the eye doctor said that he could not give me glasses because I had opacities. I would then need to go to a specialist.

Nearly back at my car, Confused, I made a beeline back to the optometrist. I asked very demandingly “What are opacities? Opacities are cataracts. Oh, I know what cataracts are I said with determination.

I then asked; well, how come six months ago you could give me glasses but today you cannot? Reasonable question don’t you think? After things been explained to me; after being assertive with my questions, I finally understood what was happening with my eyes. I did need cataract surgery. Does not “cataracts” sound more common than Opacities?

After about two years of having surgery on two eyes, I only need laser treatment on one of my eyes tomorrow Thursday 29 July 2010. Being fifty six, I can see much clearer now than when I was twenty one. I do wear reading glasses now. After laser treatment is finished, I will probably get long distance glasses for driving.

His Sight

We need to be able to see clearly as Christians. When sin came into the world, the knowledge of good and evil was seen. God had knowledge of the Angel that was cast out of heaven that became Satan.

We need to see clearly, the marks of sin in our own lives so that one can clean it up. Not like I missed the dirty marks at work because I could not see clearly.

How do we see clearly? We see clearly by staying close to God and getting the right information. Unlike me, receiving an unclear diagnosis on my eyes, we need to be close to God and Spiritual encouragement for our Spiritual eye sight.

Once we receive the right spiritual sight, we are then able to see clearly and be more available for our Lord’s service

Teaspoon or Desert spoon of Faith

I was concerned today because I thought I had it wrong. But now I realize that it is more significant to me more than ever.

It is known that we all have five senses. Although the amount of senses we do have could be debatable amongst cults. For the sake of this writing, let us stick to five senses. They are hearing, smelling, feeling, seeing and tasting. Today, I will only use two senses, hearing and tasting.

To taste in a spiritual realm is metaphoric act that one can have. Hearing is relevant to sound. Or we often refer what we may take note of what is being said and apply it.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Ps 34:7

This famous verse in Psalms, does not refer to a literal taste, but rather let us be challenged by our Lord, try it out and know that it is good for us.

One may ask the question. How do I know what to taste? Simple answer is by a preacher. Yes! I looked up the word preacher in my dictionary.

To preach is “To advocate or inculcate (religious or moral truth, right conduct, etc.) in speech or writing. 2. To proclaim or make known by sermon (the gospel, good tidings, etc.)

Notice the words in “speech or writing.” I guess we have come in contact where preaching is somewhat yelling from the pulpit. In my days I have met some on fire preaching and I have come across some that just give a soft talk or somewhere there between.

One thing I have noticed is that speaking or writing in a hard tone is not going to do anything to ones body.
Taking one of the other five senses i.e. “taste” If it is too hot it is going to burn our tongue, mouth or our insides. I guess most of us have done that.

It is interesting to note that the Psalmist did not say gulp our Spiritual food and it will taste good. He said taste and see the the Lord is good.

Is tasting much softer than preaching? You see, there is not much difference how we get the message across weather it is in volume, hardness, preaching, by speaking as we know it or writing. The question arises, are we going to taste that the Lord is good?

In my opening sentence, I said, I thought I had it wrong. Debating against myself in this, I could not have it more originally correct, according to the dictionary.

I do believe that preaching can be in writing as well as standing in front of a pulpit. In front of a pulpit you may or may not know your audience. It depends on what the preacher may feel the congregation needs to how he preaches. He could preach hard and loud or he could speak soft or lowly. It could even depend on personality.

With writing, we do not know who is going to pick up the writ. It could be someone needs a hard and to the point message or does someone need a nice soft story? Both may meet the need of the reader.
Regardless how a message is brought to us by our writing, we need to taste. God only expects us to take little bites in our Christian walk with Him. But let us not be surprised if we go from a taste, to a teaspoon of faith to a dessert spoon of faith. as we taste his goodness toward us.

Blocked Instructions for War

Blocked Instructions for War

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14

I am feeling very discouraged today in today’s society. People are not willing to hear the Gospel of Salvation nor the teaching and knowledge of God’s Word the Bible.

Having sites on the net, does not seem to entice one to the teaching of the Bible. Christians seem to be too busy to look up a word of encouragement even with modern technology from the computer.

Is it possible that we have become so wrapped up in what we are doing; we are ignoring what other Christians have written? Oh yes, I know what you are thinking. What about you? Is that not the human response? I do plead guilty in this area of my Christian life.

What about the wrongful pride that we could have? Having the attitude, I have been to Bible College I do not need that person to share with me. I am ok. There is big news for each of us. I get so inspired by the simple things that others may encourage in. An example of this is a new born in Christ. There smiling face and their exhilaration for God cannot be ignored.

It is important to squash the pride of he or she is a relative. I do not want to listen to her or him. God’s word stands regardless of what others may teach us. But what someone else says in a certain space of time may be what God wants us to hear.

What about our opening verse in Romans 10:14? Should I stop sharing because people do not want to hear? I think not. We need to understand that no matter how many gospel messages, no matter how many encouragements and no matter how much teaching we give; we as Christians need to understand that we need to keep spreading the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

If a person in the military does not know how to follow instructions, then how is one going to be effective in war? We are at war with the evil one. Are we going to get as much as we can from God’s Word the Bible from others to fight this war? Or are we going to sit on the side lines having the attitude of heart; I am not going to listen to you?

Blocking our hearing is not going to stop his Word from being real. Are we going to hear God’s word when we are supposed to, in the space of time we ought to? Or are we going to neglect to hear?
May our thoughts be pondered and our hearing improved.

oh' to be a Servant

Oh’ to be a Servant

1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2. Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1Timothy 1,2

Timothy was a Greek name meaning honouring God, or dear to God. Timothy was from Lystra. His Father being Greek; a Greek name was given to Timothy. Timothy was from Lystra in Asia Minor. In today's world would be turkey. His mother. Eunice, and Lois, his grandmother were Jews. Their faithfulness to God was pronounced (2 Timothy 1:5) Paul calling Timothy his true son in the faith was a significant label that paul had given him. (Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 3;11.

In 1Timothy 4:14 we read “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."

As we look at the above paragraphs, we notice that attributes of a Minister, Pastor or elder stands very clear.

First I would like to point out the meaning of Timothy’s name. Realizing that we all do not have the name “Timothy”, I believe that his name is given as an example to those who are considering a servants position. Nothing happens by chance. We all can use Timothy’s meaning of his name as a challenge before leadership is considered. “Are we honouring to God?” if not we need to seriously consider this label before one enters in the servant’s role.

Next I see that Timothy was from a Christian home. Just as we do not all have the name of “Timothy” nor do we all come from Christian homes. Only God knows the heart of each individual. Having said this, I believe that all my family know the Lord. Yet we are all different and living in different circumstances.

What a challenge, for those that do not have family as Christians? We have a responsibility to share the Salvation Gospel to our family members. I am not saying that you cannot be in a servant’s role because your family is not saved. But Timothy had that witness of being brought up in a Jewish home.

In these two verses we see that Paul called Timothy his “true son in the Faith.” What a witness to have. Paul the Apostle calling Timothy a true son in the Faith must have been an uplifting encouragement.

To be a witness to Timothy’s position as a servant we must consider 1Timothy 4;14. Paul recognizes that Timothy has a gift of being a servant.

I would like to submit that if we cannot be a servant to others in our Christian life, then how can we serve the house of God?

I believe that a Pastor, Elder, Minister should have a servants heart without reservation.

1. To be a Servant one must be a “True Son in the Faith”
2. He must be able to have a Christian home or be able to witness to His Family.
3. He must be a servant and have a servants heart.

Timothy had an outward and inward testimony. It is apparent today that Satan’s accusers have learned to destroy in today’s society. Accusations are made within and without the Church of God. If one has to defend every accusation that comes to us, we are not going to have much of a chance to grow or excel in the ministry that God has for us.

I think the devout leader should consider the accusations as coming from Satan himself and give little heed to that of the accusation. By giving heed has and will destroy potential Pastors, elders, and ministers.

I cannot prove this from scripture that I can think of but, if we Join forces with Satan on the accusation given, we are going to be robbed of the Glory of God in our lives and our position of servitude is going to be stripped away and our ministry stopped or hindered.

Let us take on the meaning of Timothy’s name and be honouring to God. Timothy was used as an example for us as one considers being a Servant of Jesus Christ.
KJV Bible
Phil Barrington

My great Concern to study Timothy and Titus.

My great Concern to study Timothy and Titus.

With great concern I thought it necessary to do a study on first and second Timothy and Titus. We all have had some dealings with these books of the Bible, if in fact we have been Christians for any length of time. Personally, I have encountered much preaching especially of Pastoral and Elders and Deacons of the Church.

It is true that we leave parts of the Bible out sometimes to meet our own ends or our own interpretation of the scriptures and will influence what we believe. Having said this, we must not leave out the Holy Spirit as he guides us in the time of need to a portion of scripture, in order that we may receive answers.

It may be said that what Paul teaches was different to what Jesus taught in the Gospels. Questions may arise about our gifts or our capabilities that are elsewhere mentioned in Scripture. I would submit to you that this does not leave out the Pastoral Epistles in order to follow another passage that is written somewhere else in the Bible.

Just as it was important to have all four Gospels written, it was also needed that the office of Elders and deacons was needed at the time that Timothy received the letter from Paul. Also it is important to note that it is written for our own instruction. Does one think that the Epistle to Timothy should not have been included in the Bible for our benefit? Just because our society has changed it is a shore fact that the Bible has never changed it's divine instruction.

To say that these Pastoral qualifications should not be followed or rejected in some way is to say the Holy Spirit should have not put these epistles in our Bible for our instruction.

What about our gifts? In scriptural context we can offer our gifts in the society today through the leadership of the Church or even have a ministry created to fulfil our gifts to society and the glorification of Scripture and Lord Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit.

This is not to discourage what the Holy Spirit wants from you, but I encourage that your ministry will be done in accordance with the instructions that is vividly written in His Holy Word.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 1Timothy 3:16.

Struck by Lightening

Sharon became restless through the night. She pondered with interrupted sleep, about what her next writing would be. Her dad, being a writer, often mentioned writers block. This negative thought kept on coming to her. “This could not be, I couldn’t have writers block” she would repeat over and over again as she tossed about in her bed.

Thunder and lightening woke her up at the crack of dawn. Through sleepy eyes she made her breakfast. Not saying a word, she dressed herself for school.

Adding to Sharon’s stress, her dad having an early appointment was not able to take Sharon to school.
Still down in the dumps, it seemed to Sharon that it took forever to get to the bus stop. While waiting for the bus, a word was not spoken. Her silence was kept while the bus engine noise changed, as it went up and down the hills.

Tony was absent in his thought. “She would probably knock my block off if I say something.” He would think, as he looked over to her occasionally.

Sharon’s spiritedness had gone; the morning went slowly and quietly. A glum look on her face was a disturbance to the class. As the morning progressed; Sharon seemed to be almost in tears.

With relief, the lunch bell rang. Sharon was so upset that she did not want to speak to Tony. Tony knew that Mr. Teasdale was going to be on lunch duty.

Tony went over to him quickly. “Sir, Sir, may I speak with you?” Tony enquired.
“Yes, what can I do for you?” asked Mr. Teasedale
“Sir, Sharon looks sadder than what I was before I became a Christian.”
Together, they walked over to the corner of the auditorium where Sharon was sitting.
“What is the problem Sharon? is it because of the stormy weather?” asked, Mr. Teasdale as they were getting closer.
“No,” she said, looking at the ground.

Mr. Teasdale looked at her again with concern. While bending to her level, he continued. “There has got to be something wrong. Where is the bright sparkling Girl?”

Her mouth drooped, “Sir, I think I have lost my ability to write. I just cannot seem to find something to write anymore; my Dad calls it writers block.”

Mr. Teasdale smiled at her “Did you know we are looking for someone to do our School flyer?”
Sharon looked up at him. “Sir, could I do it?”

Looking at him with seriousness, “I mean what if I get writers block?”
While standing, Mr. Teasdale continued. “Sharon, you have all your friends to help you. They will be able to inspire you.”

Tony broke his silence, “Hey Yeah, and if we pray, God will help us to know what to write.”
Sharon looked at Tony with a cheeky smile. “Who said you could help?”
From that moment, Sharon’ personality started to shine.
Mr. Teasdale left to continue his playground duties.
Sharon got up and turned her head towards Tony, “Tony, you said something that struck me like lightening.”
“What is that?” Tony asked with interest.
“You see Tony; I think I forgot the most important thing about writing.”
“So what did I say to strike you like lightening?”
“I forgot to pray. I did not ask God to give me the inspiration I need to write.”
“May be we can pray now.” Tony suggested with confidence.
“Right now, In the middle of the playground?” Sharon asked, waving her hand in front of her.

With much frustration, Tony felt that he needed to say something to Sharon about the way he had been treated during the day.
“Sharon, I have been trying to talk to you all day. You have had writers block. I have not been able to talk to you. If you do not pray, I am going to knock your block off.”
Tony, being a young Christian, began to apologize. “You are right Tony, no need to apologize.”
Standing in the playground they both went to silent prayer to ask God’s blessing on the new school flyer.
After speaking with God, they both went to their friends around the playground to get some ideas for the new school flyer. As they did, God gave them the inspiration they needed.

At that point the only block that was removed was the writers block.