Monthly Archives: June 2011

Thought for the Day – To Kill or not to Kill

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The Mayo Clinic is probably one of the most reknown medical facilities in the world. I was on their website today and the Lord truly blessed me with the research. I am a firm believer that any baby is a human life even at the point of conception. However, for those of you who support abortion, I plead with you to look at this logically.

According to the Mayo Clinic, during the week after fertilization, the blastocyst (fertilized egg) attaches itself to the uterine wall. This marks the week where the embryonic period begins and this is:

“when the baby’s brain, spinal cord, heart and other organ begin to form. Your baby is now 1/25 of an inch long. (emphasis mine)

Notice how Mayo Clinic calls this embryo a baby? It’s so convenient for the world to have abortions when they are told that this embryo or fetus is not “really” a human life. However, what does the word of God say?

The Scripture says that the life of flesh is in the blood. (Lev 17:11a) For the life of the flesh is in the blood: When does blood actually begin to flow during the gestation period? According to the Mayo Clinic,

Week 5: Baby’s heart begins to beat – Your baby at week five (three weeks after conception)
——————————————————————————–
At week five, your baby is 1/17 of an inch long — about the size of the tip of a pen.

This week, your baby’s heart and circulatory system are taking shape. Your baby’s blood vessels will complete a circuit, and his or her heart will begin to beat. Although you won’t be able to hear it yet, the motion of your baby’s beating heart may be detected with an ultrasound exam.

With these changes, blood circulation begins — making the circulatory system the first functioning organ system. (emphasis mine)

I have emphasized the word “baby” throughout this quote from Mayo Clinic’s website to show you that even they consider this to be a baby. Did the Mayo Clinic really mean to call this a baby or was it convenient?

When it is inconvenient (for those proponents of abortion), this baby is considered a fetus. To the woman guilty of desiring an abortion, this detaches her from any emotional tie to her baby. She views this as a choice and not a baby. The Bible says that life begins with the blood of all flesh – even the Mayo Clinic says that this baby’s (this “life”) circulatory system and heart are now working! Thus we have a living, human life form – a precious and beautiful baby!

What do you do with this? Of course, if you want to justify your sin of murder, you would say that you do not believe the Bible. You would further say that there is no God. (Psa 53:1) [To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

(Psa 10:13) Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. The murderer will be required to pay for the spilt blood of an aborted child. God said, (Exo 20:13) Thou shalt not kill. It will be required of you to pay for this sin, my friend. (Exo 21:12) He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. Murder is the killing of human life. Life begins with the beating heart, therefore, it stands to reason that this life ceases when the heart stops beating.

This baby is surely considered a living being according to God’s word. But if you need the world’s opinion, the Mayo Clinic states that this baby’s heart is beating and its brain is functioning. Ironically, the world states that when the heart and brain stop functioning, a human life has died. Why then can’t the world reverse this thought process and say that life actually began with the brain and heart functioning? They cannot because that would mean that they have allowed legalized murder and they are guilty themselves of murder! As of this date (June 2011), New York City has a 70% abortion rate, according to the CDC. Each mother and father that has agreed to an abortion is a murderer. Each doctor and nurse who has participated in abortions is guilty of murder!

The life is in the blood – The Mayo Clinic has unknowingly agreed with the Word of God. How ironic. My friend, if you have had an abortion, I ask that you write to me. The Lord Jesus is ready to forgive you of your sins and you can be born again in newness of life. (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17)

If you are contemplating an abortion, won’t you wait? Please write to me! Let me show you what God’s Word has to say. If you are under conviction, praise the Lord God Almighty. It is not too late to be born again! Today is the day! Won’t you come to Jesus now, repent of your sin and be saved? (Mat 11:28 ) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.


Thought for the Day – What Kind of Wife Am I?

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But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 1 Kings 11:1-3 (KJV)

Solomon had his relationship with God and God blessed him. He started out well, but like so many, he did not end well. God warned Solomon to stay away from “strange” women (1 Kings 11:2). God told him what would happen and we see in the next verse that it happened exactly according to what God said.

We can learn a couple of things from this passage in Scriptures. First, what kind of a wife am I? Do I encourage my husband toward the things of God and His word or does my testimony speak otherwise? (1 Peter 3:1-4) Do I blatantly “strut” my spirituality or does my walk speak louder than my talk? The best thing I can do for my husband is to be close to my God! If I am right with God, His Holy Spirit will lead me and guide me in all things. (John 16:13)

Secondly, do I obey the Scriptures or do I disobey as Solomon did? God gives us many warnings in His word. For example, we are not to be “yoked” with unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) This could mean by marriage or into any close relationship, like business. Picture a yoke, if you will. It has two openings, one for each oxen. One oxen cannot go in one direction and the other in a separate direction. They must go in the same direction. So any relationship or contract which causes a Christian to go in one direction with an unbeliever is not in accordance with God’s word. You can almost be certain that the unbeliever will not want to go in a godly direction. It will lead to compromise for the Christian. The Christian cannot sit on the fence when it comes to compromise – we all know who owns that fence of compromise and that is the devil! God says to come out from among them. That relationship cannot possibly lead to any good.

If your husband is a believer, do you encourage him in the Lord? When he comes to you for input on a decision, do you speak with worldliness or do you seek after God’s word? Are you his helpmeet or do you tear down what he is working hard to do? (Proverbs 14:1) It’s good for us to evaluate our spiritual walk and seek God’s will for our lives. Moral inventory in light of God’s word should be a daily task!

Do you encourage your husband to go the way of the world as Solomon’s wives did or do you encourage him to walk with the Lord as David? (1 Kings 11:6) Is it your goal to help your husband end well? We know Solomon did not end well because of his wives and their influence over him. What kind of wife are you?

Thought for the Day – Cure All

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~Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

When the Christian is in the middle of a crisis, as Job was, he must ask himself this question:

Am I where I should be in my walk with God?

There’s no sense asking this question if the believer is living his life in rebellion and does not want to know the answer. The Christian who truly wants to know will seek God’s face and will search His Word to find out the answers.  (II Timothy 2:15)

The Lord spoke and said that the fear of God is wisdom and departing from evil is understanding.  (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33) When a believer rightly fears God and has a moral reverence for God, he will desire the things of God – and the one who does not fear God won’t desire the things of God. (Job 13:3, Galatians 4:9) The one who desires to walk more closely with God will have the need to be in the Word, studying and learning, and applying it to his spiritual walk. The results produce a Christian who receives understanding from His God.

Are there areas in your life where you do not acknowledge God’s words?  Do you pick and choose what you will obey? To obey only in certain areas is quenching the Holy Spirit’s work in your spiritual life. (I Thessalonians 5:19) Are you in the midst of a trial and it is due to neglecting God’s Word and His instruction? You will not receive wisdom and understanding if you are in direction contradiction to what God is saying and the word of God says that is rebellion. (Nehemiah 9:17, Proverbs 17:11)  Repent of this rebellion and fix your eyes on God’s word. Let His Holy Spirit instruct you in the way you should go. (Psalm 119:105)

Seeing your God with the reverential awe He deserves will humble you and will open your heart to His instruction. Departing from known sin is a start. You know in your heart when you have sinned – admit that and turn away from it. It is then that you will receive that wisdom and understanding.

Thought for the Day – Unnatural Reactions

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~Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

It is not a natural thing for us to obey this verse. Our first reaction is to “get even”! But to the born-again believer with a new nature, it should be our first reaction.

~2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Our old nature that desires to sin, to bicker, etc. is the same nature that thinks we are right and everyone else is wrong. This same old nature is not willing to be taught that it is better to be at peace.  (Psalm 119:165) However, the new nature given to us at salvation does not need to yield itself to the reactions of the “old man.”

Granted, Paul’s letter to the Romans is talking about being persecuted for the faith. Remember Nero and how he persecuted the early Christians and many were martyred for their faith? We are not at that point in these United States … yet. But that time is coming! [Side note: I read in the news that a street preacher was being cursed by a Muslim for preaching about Christ and against the sin of sodomy.] The persecutions of faith that we see from day-to-day is that of family and friends who disagree with our relationship with Christ. They are religious but they do not have that relationship and, thus, do not understand why we are excited about our faith. (Luke 12:53)

It is in these persecutions that we must remember with what we are dealing. They need Christ – they need salvation (John 3:16) – they need to hear the blessed Gospel of mercy! (Ephesians 2:4)  How can they hear it if we are at odds with them? Can our boldness lead them in the opposite direction?  Must we point out their sin with hatred in our voices? Instead of approaching our family with a defensive attitude, how about showing them the Scriptures and letting the Holy Spirit of God do the convicting? Sometimes in our boldness we are passing judgment – we know we have reached that point when we get angry, rather than desiring to share the blessed Gospel with love for their lost souls. (Matthew 7:3) It is not for us to judge but for God and God alone.

~Psalm 50:6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

Therefore, it is up to us to show Christ to our family and friends. Yes, Christ was not hesitant in pointing sin. But no where in Scriptures have I read where Christ put His finger in sinners’ faces and yelled at them. The only time I read about Him displaying anger was when he cleansed the temple. (Matthew 21:12-13) We need to remember that once we were as our lost family members and friends. In fact, we still sin. With this merciful approach, we can keep the doors of communication open. It is God’s holy word that will do the convicting, just as it did for us, amen?

When we rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us, He will place someone in our path that He wishes for us to speak to. When that opportunity presents itself, the Holy Spirit will prepare the heart of that person to hear what He would have you to say. When a heart is ready to hear the blessed Gospel, our words filled with mercy and grace will point them to the Cross and the Holy Spirit will be able to do His job!

The God Of Soldiers

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On a cool, quiet January morning, Corporal Rick Garrett was shaving in the shower trailer at Camp Victory, Iraq. Wrapped in a towel and enjoying the energy he felt from a good night’s sleep, he began thinking about the months he had left overseas. Many questions filled his mind: Would the war get even bloodier? Would any of his buddies be killed? Would he do his duty well? In fact, would he even survive?

Then another question – it was a prayer, really – formed itself in his mind: “God, are you able to protect me over here?”

The words had just become a conscious thought when Corporal Garrett heard a deafening crash. It was the sound of the trailer door shattering. An RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) had pierced the door and was now flying through the middle of the trailer. In an instant, the projectile flew past Corporal Garrett, lightly creasing his stomach en route, and embedded itself in the trailer wall opposite the door.

For a moment, Garrett was frozen in shock, expecting the RPG to explode. But it did not. Realizing he might have a moment to escape, the Corporal ran to the gaping hole where the door had been and hurled himself through it to the ground several feet below. Jumping up as quickly as he could, he sprinted from the trailer while shouting a warning to those in the nearby trailers. Dozens of soldiers braced themselves for an explosion.

Yet nothing happened. The RPG never exploded. It was a dud. Garrett picked himself up from the ground and began laughing with relief. As a crowd gathered and began congratulating him for his luck, he remembered the question he had been asking God: “Can you protect me over here?” It seemed that God had answered.

In case the message hadn’t been clear enough, though, there was something more. When the ordinance specialists examined the unexploded RPG, they found a message had been scratched onto it. This was not uncommon. Insurgents often painted or scratched some message on the missiles they fired as an added insult to their American enemy. But the message on this particular missile had a special meaning to Corporal Garrett.

It read simply, “From the God of the American Soldiers.”

Apparently, an insurgent had intended the message as a cruel insult. Corporal Garrett knew better. Whatever the insurgents meant to say, he knew that his God was saying in dramatic terms, “Yes, I can protect you over here. For I am indeed, ‘the God of the American Soldiers.’”

Taken from ‘American Heroes’ by Stephen Mansfield.

Billy Sunday Quotes

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Live so that when the final summons comes you will leave something more behind you than an epitaph on a tombstone or an obituary in a newspaper.

The Lord is not compelled to use theologians. He can take snakes, sticks or anything else, and use them for the advancement of his cause.

I believe that a long step toward public morality will have been taken when sins are called by their right names.

Your reputation is what people say about you. Your character is what God and your wife know about you.

If you took no more care of yourself physically than spiritually, you’d be just as dried up physically as you are spiritually.

If you live wrong you can’t die right.

Look into the preaching Jesus did and you will find it was aimed straight at the big sinners on the front seats.

If good preaching could save the world, it would have been done long ago.

Churches don’t need new members half so much as they need the old bunch made over.

There wouldn’t be so many non-church goers if there were not so many non-going churches.

Too many churches are little more than four walls and a roof.

There are some so-called Christian homes today with books on the shelves of the library that have no more business there than a rattler crawling about on the floor, or a poison within the child’s reach.

Home is the place we love best and grumble the most.

There is more power in a mother’s hand than in a king’s scepter.

I don’t believe there are devils enough in hell to pull a boy out of the arms of a godly mother.

There is nothing in the world of art like the songs mother used to sing.

To train a boy in the way he should go you must go that way yourself.

Don’t stop with telling your boy to do right. Show him how.

Be careful, father, or while you are taking one lap around the devil’s track your boy will make six.

If you would have your children turn out well, don’t turn your home into a lunch counter and lodging house.

Not to walk in the straight and narrow way yourself, is to give the devil the biggest kind of a chance to get our children.

Some homes need a hickory switch a good deal more than they do a piano.

Better die an old maid, sister, than marry the wrong man.

Whiskey is all right in its place — but its place is hell.

The normal way to get rid of drunkards is to quit raising drunkards — to put the business that makes drunkards out of business.

Riches have never yet given anybody either peace or rest.

It won’t save your soul if your wife is a Christian. You have got to be something more than a brother-in-law to the Church.

You can’t raise the standard of women’s morals by raising their pay envelope. It lies deeper than that.

The reason you don’t like the Bible, you old sinner, is because it knows all about you.

Going to church doesn’t make a man a Christian, any more than going to a garage makes him an automobile.

The difference between God’s side and the devil’s is the difference between heaven and hell.

God keeps no half-way house. It’s either heaven or hell for you and me.

A man can slip into hell with his hand on the door-knob of heaven.

The Bible will always be full of things you cannot understand, as long as you will not live according to those you can understand.

The inconsistency is not in the Bible, but in your life.

God likes a little humor, as is evidence by the fact that he made the monkeys, the parrot — and some of you people.

Yank some of the groans out of your prayers, and shove in some shouts.

If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power.

What have you given the world it never possessed before you came?

The Bible says forgive your debtors; the world says “sue them for their dough.”

Temptation is the devil looking through the keyhole. Yielding is opening the door and inviting him in.

I am not the author of the plan of salvation, but I am responsible for the way I preach it.

I am an old-fashioned preacher of the old-time religion, that has warmed this cold world’s heart for two thousand years.

When I hit the devil square in the face some people go away as mad as if I had slapped them in the mouth.

The backslider likes the preaching that wouldn’t hit the side of a house, while the real disciple is delighted when the truth brings him to his knees.

To discover a flaw in our makeup is a chance to get rid of it, and add a new line of beauty to our life.

It is not necessary to be in a big place to do big things.

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Thought for the Day – Judge Yourself

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~Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

What is in our hearts will most assuredly come out of our mouths. Both Matthew and Luke recorded these words from Christ. If we are honest with ourselves, we will agree with this.

If our hearts are not centered around Christ and the things of Christ, our mouths will reflect it. When you are in the presence of someone who “practices what they preach” when it comes to Christianity, you know that they have “something” different because they walk the walk.

The same is true when you are in the presence of someone who could care less about the things of God. Their mouths are filthy and their lives reflect their heart.

But what about the one who goes to church faithfully and tries to be a good person? He appears religious on the outside but what happens when he is alone where no one sees him? The Pharisees were like this and Jesus called them hypocrites.

~Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

God looks on the heart. Just because you “act” religious does not mean that you have a relationship with God.

~1 Samuel 16:7b …for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

God sees everything – nothing is hid from Him. God told Jeremiah:

~Jeremiah 16:17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

So dear reader, if you are born again, live like you are and don’t keep your light where the world cannot see it. To the one who is not born again, take a moment and be honest with yourself!

Thought for the Day – Do You Hear God?

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~John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

~Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

~John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Let God’s Word speak for itself. If you go to church and follow the church rules, yet you disregard what the Word of God, the Bible, teaches, you must question if you are a child of God.  The Bible teaches that it is not following rules or man’s teachings that will get you to Heaven.  One must be born again!  The Holy Spirit enters one’s heart at that point and lives within him.  One is then born of the spirit and the water of the Word, the Water of Life!

~Revelation 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Thought for the Day – Encouraging Ourselves

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But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Cor. 2:9)

I love this verse, don’t you? Many times when I need to encourage my own heart, I think of this verse. I remind myself that despite all the beauty around me, Heaven will have more. I can’t even fathom this in my finite brain!

I remember when I was first saved, how I looked for the rapture to happen at any moment! I looked up so often then. I have thought about the rapture every day since my salvation, however, not with the same enthusiasm. I’ve allowed the cares of this world to slowly quench my enthusiasm. Forgive me, Father. So I sit here this morning, renewing my strength and renewing my enthusiasm.

1 Cor. 15:51-55, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Titus 2:13, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Acts 1:11, Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

So once again, I am looking up!! Our Blessed Saviour’s return is imminent because the Word says so. Our Saviour’s return can be at any moment so I need to be busy doing His work and leave the cares of this world in HIS care.

Thought for the Day – The Rock!

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Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The Scriptures speak of Jesus Christ, our Rock and Saviour, seven times! Seven is God’s perfect number. It excites me to see that He would refer to the Rock (proper noun) seven times – the perfect Rock – the perfect plan of salvation – the perfect Saviour!

~Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

~Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

~Deuteronomy 32:18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

~Deuteronomy 32:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

~Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

~2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

~1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

The Word describes the Rock’s attributes to us. The final verse in the New Testament tells us just who that Rock is: Jesus Christ!

(1) Rock = Works are perfect, ways are judgments, God of truth, God without sin, God is just and right
(2) Rock = Salvation
(3) Rock = Creator of man
(4) Rock = Does not forsake us
(5) Rock = Not the god of this world, but the one and only!
(6) Rock = God of Israel and Christians
(7) Rock = Jesus Christ

No other “religion” on earth can describe their god to such perfection through perfect scriptures as Christians can. Our Rock is God. Our Rock left His throne to take on flesh. Our Rock never sinned so He could be the perfect Lamb. Our Rock shed His blood so He could pay the ransom for our sin. Our Rock arose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. Our Rock awaits His return to reign over this earth.

~Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Our Rock is Wonderful! Our Rock is our Counsellor! Our Rock is the mighty God and everlasting Father. Our Rock is the Prince of Peace! Glory be to God in the highest!!