The Sermon

Grateful

I am currently on vacation.
My sister's-in-law, and husband wanted to do something grand for their mother's 70th so we're all at a house in the coastal Lincoln City.
It's lovely here and I'm thoroughly enjoying having nothing on my plate.
At home I am always doing something and I firmly decided that I would get the most relaxation by doing nothing.
Except devotions. Devotions are a necessary part of relaxation. Walking with God makes everything peaceful and keeps my very strong emotions in check.

I always wonder if I had complete freedom to knit all the time, would I do it?
The answer is yes, yes I very well would.
Today while my son, husband, and everyone else was napping I got to sit by the hot tub, knit, and listen to sermons.
I happened upon a sermon that soothed my heart, soul, and spirit.
It contained many things that I have been thinking of recently. It reaffirmed somethings that have been questioned recently and it gave me strength.
I spent the most enjoyable few hours, on my own, hearing from God.

Please, if you have a moment, take time to listen to this sermon.
It is called The Best Things I Have Ever Learned by Dilbert Terry.
It was such a joy and blessing to hear it.
When I lead people to the Lord, this will be the first sermon I direct them to- it encompasses that much.
The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Best Things I Have Ever Learned- Dilbert Terry

Good Preaching for the Family

I don't have much time to write today so I thought I'd let others do some work for me.
The following links are to sermons that have helped me as a wife and mother. I hope they are as much a help to you as they have been to me.


This first sermon is one I would share with every wife I know. The Power of a Submissive Wife by Reg Kelly. Submission is not at all easy. It becomes easier when you understand it better and realize that submission protects you. I hope you listen to it again and again and follow the wisdom God is showing you through it.


This next sermon, also by Reg Kelly, is on biblical child training. It is a great sermon and he makes many good points to draw from.


Lastly, this link is to a series of sermons called 'Happy Ever After (The Home)' by Dilbert Terry. He addresses everything that has to do with the home in this series. He's one of the best preachers ever because he speaks the whole Word (he reads through the Bible at least 4 times a year and he knows it so well) and he does not shy away from saying anything. He is not vulgar or anything he just deals very plainly with scripture.
Happy Ever After- Dilbert Terry

I hope these sermons are a blessing to you!

Gleanings from Hebrews

I recently finished a study of the book of Hebrews. I have never looked at Hebrews in depth before so I found a whole treasure trove of discoveries.
A while back my position as a dispensationalist was questioned. It's not a bad thing to have your beliefs questioned, as you grow in Christ you need to re-examine your stance on things and change according to what the scripture says. When my position was questioned I studied the matter for myself and made sure what I believed was right. I did not have to change my beliefs. In fact, I'm even more persuaded of them now then I was before.
Before you go running off calling me a hyper-dispensationalist, let me explain. I take the whole Bible as the perfect Word of God and I believe it in it's entirety. I believe the whole Bible is written for us but not everything in the Bible is written to us.
I will not skip over books like James, Hebrews, the gospels, even the entire Old Testament just because they were not written to the Church. I will certainly read, study and know them but I will not get my doctrine from there- specifically salvation doctrine.

For whatsoever things were written

aforetime were written for our learning,

that we through patience and comfort of

the scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15:4

That all being said, the Lord directed me to study Hebrews.
Having been questioned, a few times, about divisions in the Bible, I am ultra-sensitive to the words God uses in scripture. I don't believe God let any word into His Word if it wasn't the right word. This made reading Hebrews really interesting.

There were a few things I studied that further cemented my stance that there are divions in the Bible and that a book named Hebrews would be written to the Hebrews. I thought I'd share some of these things that I've learned. This is not a commentary at all, just comparing scripture with scripture and seeing what the bible actually says about it self.
My study began in Hebrews 1 verse 1:

God, who at sundry times and in divers

manners spake in time past unto the

fathers by the prophets,

(2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by

his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of

all things, by whom also he made the

worlds;

God, right away, refers to the fathers who He spoke to by the prophets.

Is there any question who He is talking to?

The fathers refer to the Israelites who bore sons who bore sons who bore sons that are the nation of Israel. Peter, talking to 'ye men of Israel' elaborates on this Hebrews passage in Acts 3.

So who is the 'us' in Hebrews 1:2? The 'us' are the sons of the fathers in verse one- the jews.

This book is for the Jews- specifically Jews (and those who convert) in the tribulation. At this very moment the Jews (as a nation) do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. The book of Hebrews clarifies it for them in a way that relates to them- the Priesthood of Christ. God makes it very plain that the sacrifices of animals, made by imperfect Levitical priests cannot take away sins (Hebrews 10:1-4).

Jesus, however is

Called of God an high priest after the

order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 5:10

Just a note- the first time the word 'priest' appears in the bible it is a reference to Melchisedec (spelled Melchizedek in the OT) in Genesis 14:18. You can read more about Melchisedec in detail in Hebrews 7. The word 'priest', 'priests', 'priesthood', and 'high priest' does not appear in the bible between the books of Acts and Hebrews. 

Having established that Christ is a perfect high priest, having made one sacrifice for all, and is passed into the heavens, Hebrews 8 describes the need for a new covenant.

For finding fault with them, he saith,

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,

when I will make a new covenant with the

house of Israel and with the house of

Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I 

made with their fathers in the day when I

took them by the hand to lead them out of

the land of Egypt; because they continued

not in my covenant, and I regarded them

not, saith the Lord.

For this is the covenant that  I will make

with the house of Israel after those days,

saith the Lord; I will put my law into their 

mind, and write them in their hearts: and I

will be to them a God, and they shall be to

me a people:

>skipping down to verse 13<

In that he saith, A new covenant, he

hath made the first old. Now that which

decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish

away.

Hebrews 8:8-10,13

He continues in this vein through chapter 9, dealing with the earthly tabernacle as a picture of the heavenly tabernacle and the ordinances of the priesthood.  

For the blood of bulls and of goats,

and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the

unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the

flesh:

How much more shall the blood of

Christ, who through the eternal Spirit

offered himself without spot to God, purge

your conscience from dead works to serve

the living God?

Hebrews 9:13&14

I think that's amazing- it might be obvious to everyone but to me it was the first time I realized that the blood of animals purified the flesh but did not purify the conscience. I did know that the levitical sacrifices were just a stand in until Christ came, but I had not really considered what the animal's blood was cleansing.

By the end of the chapter we know that Christ dealt once and for all for the sins of the world. The Holy Spirit describes it to a Jew in a way the Jew will understand. The tabernacle was given to the Jews so they could have fellowship with God. All us saved gentiles know is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We've never had to know anything about the temple (except to study).

The Holy Spirit describes Christ's sacrifice in Jewish terms- the tabernacle and the sacrifices- the covenant originally given to Moses.

Hebrews 3:

(15) While it is said, Today if ye will hear his

voice, harden not your hearts, as in the

provocation.

(16) For some, when they had heard, did

provoke: howbeit not all that came out of

Egypt by Moses.

(17) But with whom was he grieved forty

years? was it not with them that had

sinned, whose carcases fell in the

wilderness?

(18) And to whom sware he that they should

 not enter into his rest, but to them that

believed not?

(19)So we see that they could not enter in

because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:

(1) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise

being left us of entering in to his rest, any

of you should seem to come short of it.

(2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as

well as unto them: but the word preached

did not profit them, not being mixed with

faith in them that heard it.

(3) For we which have believed do enter into

rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my

wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:

although the works were finished from the

foundation of the world.

There is a lot we can learn here but I'm going to focus on one thing. The phrase 'harden not your heart, as in the provocation' appears three times in the bible, twice in Hebrews 3 and once in Psalm 95:

(8) Harden not your heart, as in the

provocation, as as in the day of

temptation in the wilderness:

(9) When your fathers tempted me, proved

me, and saw my work.

These mentions obviously refer to one event: the refusal of Israel to go into the promised land the first time. The record is found in Numbers 13&14.

Above, in Hebrews 4:2 notice the bolded phrase: unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them.

'Them', evidently, is referring to the Israelites who could not enter into His rest because of unbelief in the day of provocation. There is no one else in the passage who 'them' can refer to.
The gospel was preached, way back, before Christ had manifested Himself in the flesh.

Numbers 14-

(6) And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the

son of Jephunneh, which were of them that

searched the land, rent their clothes:

(7) And they spake unto all the company of

the children of Israel, saying, The land,

which we have passed through to search it, is an

exceeding good land.

(8) If the LORD delight in us, then he will

bring us into this land, and give it us; a

land which floweth with milk and honey.

(9) Only rebel not ye against the LORD,

neither fear ye the people of the land; for

they are bread for us: their defence is

departed from them, and the LORD is with

us: fear them not.

(10) But all the congregation bade stone

them with stones. And the glory of the

LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the

congregation before all the children of

Israel.

(11) And the LORD said unto Moses, How

long will this people provoke me? and how

long will it be ere they believe me, for all

the signs which I have shewed among

them?

>>skip down to verse 23<<

Surely they shall not see the land which

I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any

of them that provoked me see it:

As best as I can figure out, the text I've bolded in the passage above is the gospel preached to the children of Israel in the day of provocation. There is one more verse I should mention in Numbers 13

(30) And Caleb stilled the people before

Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and

possess it; for we are well able to overcome

it.

This was the gospel preached to them:

-Go up and possess the land

-rebel not against the Lord

-fear not the people of the land

-the Lord is with you.

If they had obeyed God in that day, they would have entered into His rest. Please do not tell me that promised land is a metaphor or a picture of heaven, while it is in some cases, in this case it certainly is not. We are talking about a literal, physical occurrence and the book of Hebrews literally tells us that the gospel was preached to them.

I was very excited when I discovered this because it is proof that there is more than one gospel preached in the bible. There is only one gospel for us in the church age, but throughout the entire canon of scripture, there is more than one gospel mentioned.

Search for yourself: is there anywhere in any of the applicable passages to the provocation that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is even mentioned?

Before you count me accursed consider this:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed

from him that called you into the grace of

Christ unto another gospel:

Which is not another; but there be some

that trouble you, and would pervert the

gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven,

preach any other gospel to you than that

which we have preached unto you, let him

be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If

any man preach any other gospel unto you

than that ye have received, let him be

accursed.

Galatians 1:6-9

This passage in Galatians is talking about the gospel of Christ

The first time the gospel of Christ is mentioned is Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of

Christ: for it is the power of God unto

salvation to every one that believeth; to the

Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The gospel of Christ is salvation to everyone that believes. The gospel Paul preached to the Gentiles is found here: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

Paul, the apostle to the gentiles (Romans 15:15&16), in the first book to the gentiles, in the first chapter to the gentiles, tells us what the gospel is for this age. Not only that, the term gospel of Christ is only mentioned from Romans to 1 Thessalonians, it fits neatly into the books written to the church in the age of Grace.

This business of the different gospels in the bible is for another post, one I do intend to write if I ever have the time.

Suffice it to say this: 

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you

the gospel which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received, and wherein

ye stand;

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in

memory what I preached unto you, unless

ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received, how that Christ died

for our sins according to the scriptures;

and that he was buried, and that he rose

again the third day according to the

scriptures:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

That is our gospel, that is how you will be saved. Once more:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth

the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine

heart that God hath raised him from the

dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:9

Back to my study of Hebrews:

It is becoming more and more prevalent to believe that the 'age of grace' started way back in Genesis with Adam and Eve. People are leaving off rightly dividing. If you study scripture, desiring God's truth, you will come across division after division. For example: there's an Old Testament and a New Testiment- DIVISION.

God did not just put the word 'gospel' in Hebrews 4 because He had no better word. He used 'gospel' because it was a gospel that was preached.

I continued my study and a few days later I was in chapter five verse eleven:

(starting in verse 8 for context)

(8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he

obedience by the things which he suffered;

(9) And being made perfect, he became the

author of eternal salvation unto all them

that obey him;

(10) Called of God an high priest after the

order of Melchisedec.

(11) Of whom we have many things to say

and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull

of hearing.

Verse 11 struck me because it did not fit the way the writer had been writing up to this point. To my memory at least he had not just thrown out a reproof to his audience. Why would the Holy Spirit move him to tell the subject they are dull of hearing?

So I looked up the phrase dull of hearing

This phrase is mentioned three times total in the bible. First in Matthew 13:15-

For this people's heart is waxed gross,

and their ears are dull of hearing, and their

eyes they have closed; lest at any time they

should see with their eyes, and hear with

their ears, and should understand with

their heart, and should be converted, and I 

should heal them.

This is Jesus talking about the Jews. Read Matthew 13

Next mention is in Acts 28:27-

For the heart of this people is waxed

gross, and their ears are dull of hearing,

and their eyes have they closed; lest they

should see with their eyes, and hear with

 their ears, and understand with their heart,

and should be converted, and I should heal them.

This time it is Paul speaking to the Jews. Read Acts 28

The third mention is Hebrews 5:11 seen above.

Jesus, Paul, and the Holy Spirit writing in Hebrews are quoting Esaias (Isaiah):

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear

ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye

indeed, but perceive not.

Make the heart of this people fat, and

make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes, and hear with

their ears, and understand with their heart,

and convert, and be healed.

Isaiah 6:9&10

You know who he is talking to? The Jews.

After the Holy Spirit tells THE JEWS that they are dull of hearing He goes on to tell them:

For when the time ye ought to be

teachers, ye have need that one teach you

again which be the first principles of the

oracles of God; and are become such as

have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Hebrews 5:12

They rejected Christ (Acts 28:28) so the gospel of Christ went out to the gentiles and-

blindness in part is happened to Israel,

until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans 11:32

This proves, once again, that Hebrews is written to the Hebrews.

What advantage then hath the Jew? or

what profit is there of circumcision?

Much every way: chiefly, because that

unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Romans 3:1&2

I think I'll leave it at that for now. There is so much to get into but so little time.
I hope this was enlightening and helpful to you in some small way!

God's Plan of Salvation

And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:

Hebrews 9:27

If you died right now are you going to Heaven? Can you say with absolute certainty that you will go to God and live with him for eternity or is it a real possibility that you will spend eternity burning in a lake of supernatural fire?

Do not just close this page and never think about this again. Your mortal body lasts maybe 70-100 years but your soul is eternal. Where your soul spends eternity is completely up to the decision your mortal self makes right now. Do not go away without the assurance that you will be going to heaven when you die.

If you want to go to heaven and be with God for eternity, please continue reading.

First- realize that you are a sinner.

Romans 3:23- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

What is sin?

1 John 3:4- Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

What is the law?

John 1:17- For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Therefore the law is everything God gave to Moses. Moses was given the law in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

For example: the Ten Commandments are included in the law.

Some of those commandments include wanting things that other people have, in other words, coveting.

Do you see the nice new car someone has and covet it, or the nice clothes someone else wears, or the nice new hot tub in your neighbors yard? That's coveting and it's a sin.

How about taking the Lord's name in vain?

Do you say 'oh my god', 'Jesus Christ', or 'For Christ's sake' when you're surprised, frustrated, or just to say?

That is taking the Lord's name in vain- just saying it without meaning to call on Him.

Deuteronomy 5:11- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Those are just a few examples. I can give many more.

Like the verse says in Romans 3:23- we are all guilty of sin. We sin everyday. It is our natural way of life. Because of this sin we cannot have fellowship with God or be welcomed into heaven:

Isaiah 59:2- But your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Second- realize that nothing you do can get you to heaven.
There is nothing in the Bible that says 'good people' will get to go to heaven on their good deeds and good lives alone. You cannot buy your way into heaven and you cannot work your way into heaven.

Galatians 2:16- Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Romans 4:5- But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Isaiah 64:6a- But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;

That verse means all the good things we do are still filthy.

Third- Realize that all sin must be punished by death and ultimately, eternity in Hell and separation from God

Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:36- He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Revelation 20:15- And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Fourth- realize Jesus Christ came, lived a sinnless life, then died the death of a sinner to pay for your sins

Romans 5:6- For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 15:3&4- For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according o the scriptures:

Isaiah 53:5&6- But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all

Fifth- Believe that Jesus died for your sins, that he was buried, and raised up three days later
John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 10:9- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:13- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ephesians 2:8&9- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.

That's it, friend, that's how you get to heaven:
Faith in Jesus Christ.

If you are not saved, please don't delay. You are not guaranteed another minute of life. It can all end without warning.
If you are reading this and do not know for sure that you are saved and going to heaven, pray a prayer like the one following. Do not just say the words but believe them, own them, and realize your lost state and God's mercy toward you:

Lord Jesus, I am a sinner that deserves Hell.

I do not deserve your sacrifice for me on the cross.

I believe that you came to this earth to save me.

I believe you rose again the third day conquering death.

I ask you to cleanse me from sin by the blood you shed on the cross for me 

and save me from eternity in Hell.

Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness.

Thank you for your grace and faith by which I am saved.

Amen.

If you prayed that prayer and meant it, then praise the Lord, you are saved and going to heaven!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, I will not publish your comment.

God will do wondrous things in your life! If you don't have a King James bible, you can read it here:

www.thywordistrue.com

or get a bible app on your phone or tablet.

Reading the Bible is the best way to get started on your Christian life.

I recommend reading John and Romans then expand to reading a chapter of Proverbs every day and maybe starting in Genesis to read about God's dealings with mankind.

If you're a Christian already, I hope this compilation of verses helps you to reach lost souls for Christ!

Devotions Part One- How

I have a new nephew!
My sister had a baby on May 30, I was there the whole time and afterwards I was exhausted.
Exhausted and extra busy.
So I took a week off.

I'm back now and I have it in my head to write about devotions.

In the twenty-six years of my life I cannot say I have been very consistent devotion doer.
Most of the time my devotions get pushed aside in favour of things going on that day.
I was great at doing my devotions until my son was born.
I got to doing them again but getting up early wasn't something I could keep up.
And on and on it goes.
What I find amazing about spending consistent, dedicated time in the bible is how much you really grow.
It isn't by leaps and bounds but steady upward steps.

I don't believe there is one right way of doing devotions.
God doesn't give a how-to on that.
Scripture is full of commands to read, study, fast, and pray but how and when is completely up to us.

When I was first beginning to seek God my devotions were reading.
I would just read and read the Word.
I needed that badly since I grew up in church but hadn't even read Exodus for myself ever (so pathetic and shameful I know).
I needed the Word because I needed to be cleansed:

That he might sanctify and cleanse it

with the washing of water by the word,

Ephesians 5:26

My mind, heart, and soul needed cleansing from all the wordly influence.

Then I began to be under conviction that I needed to pray.

Thus I started by devotions by praying and ended them with a longer prayer.

I started a prayer book to keep track of requests and made a list of all the people I knew and divided them up into manageable groups to pray for.

Then I got bored.

Yep. Bored.

That sounds terrible doesn't it?

I had read most of the bible (I couldn't get very far in Leviticus and Deuteronomy) but it stopped soaking in because I stopped paying attention.

I stopped paying attention because I had already read it and felt like I knew it.

That's when I started to study the bible.

I got a notebook and studied each verse of whatever book I was reading.

Taking the time to dissect, cross-reference, and ponder each word of a verse in it's context has opened up the Word to me even more.

Honestly, sometimes I read on of Paul's epistles and the whole time I wonder what on earth he is talking about. When I stopped to take the time to go through each verse, see when the sentence started and where it stopped, read it in context and take it in with the everything else he was inspired to write, I began to understand more fully.

I believe God did that on purpose.

There are some books (Hello James, Titus, and Jude) where each verse stands alone and grabs you by the heart.

Paul has those stand alone verses too, but he has a lot more doctrine. Things to study and establish yourself in.

I do not go to any commentaries, if I am unsure of something I search the rest of the bible or I wait for a day or so and God gives me an answer. He always answers, often when I am at church or when I'm reading with my husband or son.

Studying the bible in depth also helps strengthen your knowledge of certain words, doctrines, and commandments.

For example, the word meek.

If you just read through your bible you come across it here and there. You get an idea of it in each verse  and you move along, learning of other things too.

I came across it one day and studied it in depth.

I knew Moses was meek and Jesus was meek, and God likes meekness but those things don't cover half of what God says about the meek.

Meekness is a fruit of the spirit.

Learning about it helped me understand it better and helped me grow into it and produce it in my life.

I intend to make this a devotion series (two or three posts at most) but let me encourage you, if your devotions have fallen off, if you just read for the sake of saying you read it, if you aren't as excited about the Word as you used to be, pick a book (ask God to help you) read it, and study it verse by verse.

I promise it will rejuvenate your walk with God and you will be closer to him.

I use www.thywordistrue.com to look up words and find verses when I need.

Two things:

Use a bible to study. Don't use an app on your ipad or a website to read.

Use your bible. Make notes, write cross references down in your bible.

It will help you as you study more and more books and you will remember it better having written it down. 

This method is best used on New Testament books, particularly the epistles.

I love reading the copious historical accounts found in the Bible, but as a New Testament believer, I need to establish myself in the doctrines, teachings, commandments, and encouragements written to me. Those books tend to be harder to read.

I hope this helps in some small way!

Preach the Word- Bible Believers Baptist Church

Today while my son was napping, I was prepping dinner and listening to Dr. David Peacock preach this message: Before You Request
The wonderful thing about preaching is that God uses it to enforce the things He's teaching us in our private lives.
For example, someone said some things to me that have left deep scars. Certainly I've forgiven that person but the scars remain and I have a hard time trusting that person. Often times I wondered if my feelings were right, that my feelings of distrust were merited. Last week my pastor was talking about the affect our words have on people and he mentioned that our words break relationships, even if there is forgiveness, we do a lot of damage with our words (see James 3). I went away feeling fed and knowing it was okay that those scars are there. They are a reminder- I learned lots from those words- and a wall against that person who uttered them. Our relationship is not ruined, by God's grace, and I am armed with knowledge and a wall of defense.
Not only did God show me that it is okay to be wary of people who hurt you in the past, but to be careful what I say and how I act. Some of those things never leave you.

So in this sermon pastor Peacock said somethings that enforced things God has taught and is teaching me:
1) Don't measure God's goodness by what he's done for you- did you know that the breath you are breathing at this exact moment is because of God's goodness?
Did you know that you were born in a free country because of God's goodness?
Did you know that the things you have, people you love, places you go are all there because of God's goodness?
Did you know you can go to heaven because of God's goodness?
If God does not answer a single one of your prayer requests with a 'yes' He is still good.
Did you know the Holy Spirit goes before us to protect us?
Those little 'coincidences' we could not have known to pray about are the Holy Spirit watching out for us.
God does so much for us without us even asking. Just because He does not let you win the lottery does not mean He is not good. It would probably ruin you anyways.
You will get more out of life if you are grateful for the things you have and not greedy for the things you want.

2) You can't change your husband- Please don't get me wrong, I love my husband and I would not change him for the world. When he said this it occurred to me that I can't change anyone. There are people in my life who are going down bad paths. Sometimes I think about what I can say or do to change them.
The fact is I can't.
All I can do is talk to God about it.
By talk to God about it, I don't mean ask Him to change them. I mean vent your feelings, worries, concerns, things you see, things you want to say. Everything you would say to that person, tell it to God.
Doing this changed my life.
I cannot hold things in. My feelings are too strong and I am a very passionate person. It would get me into trouble a lot.
I realized one day that no one would listen. No one wants to listen- unsolicited advice is never heeded. God wants to listen. He wants us to unburden ourselves on Him. His dealings with others are no concern of ours. If you take it to Him, He will take it from us and bandage us up.

3) Spend time adoring God- Try it one day- just pray an entire prayer just adoring God. Praise and thank Him for His goodness. Make it known why you love Him. Thank Him for the verses that carry you throughout the day. Praise Him for Jesus Christ. Thank Him for Israel and how it's existence is proof that God exists. Praise Him for the sun, moon, starts, and all creation. Thank Him for all those who He used to write hymns. Thank Him for the sacrifice people made to make our country great. Thank Him for His tender mercies. Thank Him for the rapture/ catching away/ translation.
There is SO much to praise God for. If you're having a rough day, praise God, it will make a difference.

Dr. David Peacock is a wonderful preacher. He's very good at pointing out things we do not like to think about but need to be said. For more from him go to www.biblebelieversbaptistchurch.org

If you find yourself working in the kitchen, folding laundry, or tidying up, let me encourage you to play a sermon. You'll learn something and your thoughts won't run away from you and get you into trouble.

The Joy of the Lord

I got some bad news today.

Heartbreakingly bad.

I was crying a lot this morning and my heart still weeps even now.

It is a private matter and I do not want to give any details. I only spoke to one person about it besides my husband and it broke my heart even more having to talk about it.

In times of heartbreak there isn't much you can say to yourself to make it better.

The fact is, you wish things happened differently.

Nothing can change that.

As much as we can quote verses like Romans 8:28, it does not change the fact that we've been hurt deeply and irreparably.

What we do need is strength. Strength to get through each second, minute, hour, day. Strength to do the things we need to.

As I was searching for ways to feel better this morning I remembered this passage: Nehemiah 8:9&10

And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha,

and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the

Levites that taught the people, said unto all

the people, This day is holy unto the Lord

your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the

people wept, when they heard the words of

the law.

Then he said unto them, Go your way,

eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send

portions unto them for whom nothing is

prepared: for this day is holy unto our

Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the

LORD is your strength.

That phrase 'the joy of the Lord' sounds like something we can all just know what it means- but what does it mean?

That is the only time it occurs in the Bible.

I've always wondered but I never looked into it. This morning it finally occurred to me what it means.

God's joy is His perfect will.

Nehemiah is about the people turning from their wickedness, growing in the Lord, and rebuilding Jerusalem. That gave joy to the Lord because it was His will. That time was not easy for Israel. It took lots of work and some heartache but, you know, that is the only place in the Bible where it talks about the joy of the Lord.

In my situation now, I am not happy the way things turned out, but I am strong in the fact that it was God's will. I am strong in that God has a plan, He is teaching us something, and clearly, now is not the time. I am strong in that God knows everything, He hears my prayers, Christ is interceding for me, and He knows absolutely what is best.

God knows our situation, He knows what I want, need, desire, hope, pray for. He knows.

Sure, I am still sad, but the joy of the Lord, His perfect will, gives me strength.

I hope that makes sense and helps you in some way.

God bless.

A Virtuous Woman Series- Proverbs 1

As stated in my previous post, I am beginning a study of the women of Proverbs. I will not be going verse by verse but jumping here and there to wherever a type of woman is mentioned.
This post is a little different in that I am doing most of the first chapter of Proverbs. It is basically an introduction.
God is a God of structure. What is the first thing He did when he created the world? Gave it structure. The book of Proverbs is no exception. He starts off telling you who wrote the book (the wisest man who ever lived 1 Kings 3:10-15), why the book is written and most importantly, Proverbs 1 shows you how to benefit from the book:

Proverbs 1:1-6

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the 

words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and 

judgment, and equity;

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge

and discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase

learning; and a man of understanding shall

attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the

interpretation; the words of the wise, and

their dark sayings.

If you won't accept what this passage tells you, you may as well close Proverbs and never read it again.

To understand a proverb and it's interpretation we must hear and attain. In other words, reach.

These things He tells us must be sought after, we must learn from them and reach for more.

Being the wise man He is speaking of takes work. You must listen and put actions to those words.

Not only that though:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of

knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and

instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

God is not secretive. God tells us how to get knowledge:

The fear of the Lord

There is no knowledge or wisdom without the fear of the Lord.

There is no wisdom nor understanding

nor counsel against the Lord.

Proverbs 21:30

I haven't looked into this for myself yet but I would hazard a guess that the first eight chapters of Proverbs deal with knowledge and from chapter nine on, it deals with wisdom:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of

wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy

is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

No, it is not the Lord's fear. It is fearing the Lord. Being weary of his existence and:

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for 

whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he

also reap.

Galatians 6:7

It is knowing God will reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:27). If that does not terrify you, nothing will.

As you know this is a study series on the women of Proverbs.

Be warned now that without the fear of the Lord, you will gain nothing from it.

The last part of this chapter is a good and fair warning (the bold text is my doing):

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her

voice in the streets:

She crieth in the chief place of

concourse, in the openings of the gates: in

the city she uttereth her words, saying,

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love

simplicity? and the scorners delight in their

scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will

pour out my spirit unto you, I will make

known my words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I

have stretched out my hand, and no man

regarded;

But ye have set at nought all my

counsel, and would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will

mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation.

and your destruction cometh as a

whirlwind; when distress and anguish

cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will

not answer; they shall seek me early, but

they shall not find me:

For that they hated knowledge, and did

not choose the fear of the LORD:

They would none of my counsel: they

despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of 

their own way, and be filled with their own

devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall 

slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall

destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall

dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of

evil.

Proverbs 1:20-33

A Virtuous Woman- A Woman's study of Proverbs

Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
Proverbs 31:10

I think womanhood is beautiful.
Women have power men cannot buy. We have influence men cannot buy. We have the advantage of authority without the burden of it.
The tragedy of this current world is that it is trying to break God's natural design of things. Womanhood is no exception.
I don't believe women should be kept back and given less opportunity then men simply because of their gender. I do believe that men and women each have very different strengths and that we thrive in our natural roles.
Yes, natural roles.
There is a natural place for a woman and a natural place for a man. We have characteristics and strengths that are natural for our genders. Not all characteristics are good but we're only human.
Something I've always wanted to do is a study on the women of Proverbs.
Proverbs mentions women a lot- wisdom is personified as a woman.
There is the strange woman, the foolish woman, the virtuous woman, and the wise woman.

Have you ever read Proverbs? I've read one chapter of Proverbs (31 chapters, 30-31 days in a month) almost every day for years now. You know the fascinating thing about it?
It is not a doctrinal book.
It is a book of wisdom.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE SAVED TO BENEFIT FROM IT.
You should get saved to avoid hell, destruction and judgement.
But Proverbs will help you get through any kind of life situation- student, teacher, stay at home mom, working husband, singles, any person in any walk of life will benefit from it.

Proverbs 1

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the 

words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and 

judgment, and equity;

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge

and discretion.

You want wisdom? go to Proverbs.

The best preachers I know quote Proverbs constantly throughout their sermons.

Not a day goes by where I do not quote a Proverb to myself.

This verse, for example, has saved me many times:

He that is slow to wrath is of great

understanding: but he that is hasty of 

spirit exalteth folly.

Proverbs 14:29

The last part particularly helps me, because of it I never rush into anything. I always weigh my options, get other people's opinions and make sure I am fully prepared for any decision.

That includes shopping- big and little things.

Have you ever known someone that rushed into starting something and failed because they didn't get the proper materials or people in place? Have you ever spent more money than you needed to because you didn't take the time to gather your facts or wait for a good deal?

In the moment, emotion driven decisions are not good:

and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

Proverbs 19:2b

God does not speak well of haste.

That's just one of the ways Proverbs has helped me. It will help you too if you give ten minutes to reading it in the morning. While you eat breakfast perhaps.

I'm looking forward to my study of the women of Proverbs.

We'll see where God takes us. 

Preach the Word- Look and Live

I found this website by God's will about 4 years ago now and it is my go to place for anything and everything doctrinal. Of course, I search the scriptures and make sure that I am studying doctrine for myself.

The Pastor of this church is Dilbert Terry. He knows and preaches the Word like no one I've ever heard:

Look and Live

I love how they have preached through almost every book of the bible! I've particularly loved 1st and 2nd Samuel, Revelation, and his series on the Minor Prophets. His series on the Home is very edifying and helpful- I've listened to it a few times. I've also enjoyed his series on Church History.
This sermon by a guest speaker was very good: Ants

If you do not know where you are spending eternity and want to avoid a lake of supernatural ever burning fire please go to this link and a preacher will show you how to get to heaven:
Plan of Salvation

Word Study- Covetousness

I was studying Colossians one day and came across this verse:

Mortify therefore your members which are upon

the earth; fornication, uncleaness, inordinate

affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness

which is idolatry:

Colossians 3:5

That list- fornication, uncleaness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence were all things I understood; but covetousness which is idolatry stuck out to me.

I know what covetousness is- I mean, it's defined for you right in the ten commandments- but why associate it with idolatry?

Now, I know enough about God and the bible to understand why you would put it like that. I mean, wanting something so much you worship it seems to be an alright explanation right?

One thing any experienced Christian knows is that God doesn't do things 'just for the sake' of doing it. He has a will and a purpose and it will happen. When it comes to his Word, he does not mess around (just check Proverbs 30:6 and Revelation 22:19 if you don't believe me). If it's in there there is a reason.

So I looked. If you want to learn something in the Bible then remember this passage:

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and 

whom shall he make to understand doctrine?

them that are weaned from the milk,

and drawn from the breasts.

For precept must be upon precept,

precept upon precept;

line upon line, line upon line;

here a little, and there a little:

Isaiah 28:9&10

Precept must be upon precept, line upon line. I don't think there can be any doubt to what that passage is talking about-

God will teach knowledge to those who study the bible using the Bible. None of this 'originals', what does the greek say, business. What sort of God would give you a book you wouldn't understand on its own?

So went to Thy Word is True and typed in covetousness.

The very first time God uses covetousness it says:

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men,

such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness;

and place such over them, to be rules of thousands, and rulers

of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Exodus 18:21

Hating covetousness is in God's top three qualifications for leadership!

He then says in Proverbs 28:16b-

...He that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

God also shows us a way out of covetousness:

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies ,

and not to covetousness.

Psalm 119:36

Turn your heart toward God and his Word and He'll turn your heart from coveting.

I did not really intend to talk about covetousness today but it is where the Lord lead me.

After I studied all the verses containing covetousness, I looked at covetous and covet.

It says in Luke that the pharisees derided Jesus out of covetousness- and look at what they ultimately did to him!

Needless to say, I have a problem with covetousness. It's getting a lot better since I did my study but the flesh doesn't go down without a fight.

We live in a covetous society, don't we? We all have to have the bigger better or at least equally good thingmajig as the other person. We always have to be the better person.

A preacher once said this: nothing shows you are weak more than being unthankful.

I didn't like hearing that but it is true. It takes God's grace and strength to be happy for the nice things other people have. Those nice things come with a price- think about it.

God says this:

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

1 Timothy 6:8

And this:

Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5

Covetousness is idolatry because we put what we covet above our love for God. We erect a fleshly idol and cast aside his promises, commandments, and love.

Any seasoned Christian will tell you- God gives to us freely when He is first in our hearts and we glorify him.

Like I said, I love to knit. One day I felt the urge to go to Value Village and look at the needlework section. I meandered my way back there not expecting to find anything but lo and behold- I found three crochet needles I had been looked for for a long time and best of all- circular needles in almost every size for 2.99!

Sure I would go to Michael's and look longingly at those same new needles, but getting them second hand, for next to nothing, by God's gentle nudging made those Value Village needles more precious than gold.

I could list verse after verse of God's promise to take care of us but I'll leave you with this:

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts 

unto your children, how much more shall your Father

which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 7:11