The times they are a changing sang Bob Dylan back in the '60's and he was right. The world is certainly changing and has changed in many ways. I'll be the first to admit I like all the modern conveniences we enjoy. I remember seeing my grandmother wash clothes in a wash pot with lye soap and a scrub board. I like throwing clothes in a washer in my nice laundry room and pushing a few buttons. I like having a world of information at my finger tips by going to my laptop and logging on to the world wide web. I like Facebook to an extent because you can connect with family and friends living miles away. I like not having to go out in the backyard and ringing a chicken's neck for dinner. I like these things. They make life comfortable, easy and nice, but there are other changes I do not like.
I don't like our Federal Government sticking it's nose into our business. I think they have way too much control that they shouldn't have. One thing that I particularly dislike is the government redefining marriage and family. Marriage and family was instituted and ordained by God himself in the Garden of Eden. Man is not to mess with God's ordinances. When man interferes with the plan of God, he gets in trouble every time. God's ways are higher than ours and He knows best what's best for man because He created us. Who are we to question God?
Redefining marriage and family concerns me a great deal. It is now acceptable for 2 men or 2 women to live together as marriage partners. This is not what God ordained. In fact, His Word, the Holy Bible, absolutely condemns a man and a man burning in their lust for each other. This is not normal and is absolutely contrary to God's plan.
God's plan is for a man to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. He is to love his wife as Christ loves His church. If we had more marriages like this, raising children in a Godly home we would have less crime, less health problems, and just to be honest, less mess!
Man makes a mess when he interferes with God and His plan! Just look at Abraham and Sarah. Abraham is called the "Father of the Faithful". He did follow God and left his home to look for the Promised Land after God called Him. But there was at least one occasion where Abraham failed to trust God. God promised Abraham and Sarah a promise child, an heir. When this didn't happen as soon as Sarah thought it should, she took matters into her own hand and convinced Abraham to sleep with her maid servant, which Abraham did as she suggested. What happened? The bond woman conceived a son and the result was Ishmael. Ishmael brought confusion to the household. Sarah did later conceive the promised child, Isaac, but when Sarah thought Ishmael was making fun of Isaac, she then convinced Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away.
That was a sad day. Abraham hated to do this, but to bring peace back into his house he obeyed his wife. If you study this story out, you will see to this day there is still confusion and chaos because of Abraham and Sarah's decision to take matters into their own hands.
We must follow God's laws, or commands. When we follow His plan, life will be good. God is a good God and He knows what's best for His children, just like you and I know what's best for our own children. We will walk in His blessing. Life will be orderly.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Thursday, April 16, 2015
The Best High Is The Most High
My senior year of high school found me living in Phoenix, Arizona and attending a large school, around 4,000. The night I graduated there were a little over 700 seniors in my graduating class. It took awhile for us all to march across the stage setup on the football field to receive our diploma and the band was dragging by the time it got to the end, plus it was hot in that Arizona sun.
I'll never forget the 60's. It was a time of great change in America. President Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963, which everyone living then can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing, the Viet Nam war was raging and controversial, the Civil Rights Movement was in high gear, drugs were everywhere it seemed, the Hippie Movement and their Woodstock concert, the Beatles invaded America and changed the music we listened to, and the Jesus Movement. Lots of changes.
I managed to live through that era with the help of God. Lots of changes going on in our country, but it didn't change me. I went to high school with drugs all around me, partying, girls sleeping with their boyfriends, smoking and drinking and the world saying God was dead, but I knew better!
I knew God was alive and He was living inside of me. I'm so thankful I knew the Word and what God did for me was true. You see, I accepted Jesus when I was 8 years old and fell madly in love with Him. No boy, no drug, no alcohol, no music could take the place of Jesus Christ in me! I was high alright, but I was high on the Most High which is the best high of all.
The Bible says I'm seated with Him in Heavenly places, so that's pretty high. It's a high I never want to come down from and the best part is someday He's coming back for those who have made themselves ready. To be ready you just have to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Just confess your sins, ask Him to forgive you and invite Jesus to live in you too. He'll come in and make your heart His home. You'll be high too!
I'll never forget the 60's. It was a time of great change in America. President Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963, which everyone living then can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing, the Viet Nam war was raging and controversial, the Civil Rights Movement was in high gear, drugs were everywhere it seemed, the Hippie Movement and their Woodstock concert, the Beatles invaded America and changed the music we listened to, and the Jesus Movement. Lots of changes.
I managed to live through that era with the help of God. Lots of changes going on in our country, but it didn't change me. I went to high school with drugs all around me, partying, girls sleeping with their boyfriends, smoking and drinking and the world saying God was dead, but I knew better!
I knew God was alive and He was living inside of me. I'm so thankful I knew the Word and what God did for me was true. You see, I accepted Jesus when I was 8 years old and fell madly in love with Him. No boy, no drug, no alcohol, no music could take the place of Jesus Christ in me! I was high alright, but I was high on the Most High which is the best high of all.
The Bible says I'm seated with Him in Heavenly places, so that's pretty high. It's a high I never want to come down from and the best part is someday He's coming back for those who have made themselves ready. To be ready you just have to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Just confess your sins, ask Him to forgive you and invite Jesus to live in you too. He'll come in and make your heart His home. You'll be high too!
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
God's Train of Favor
One of my favorite persons in the Bible is Joseph. I admire him because he lived an exemplary life in the midst of a pagan nation and prospered in spite of it. Joseph's brothers were jealous of him. They talked ugly about him, plotted and schemed against him, even discussing murdering him, but who knows you can't stop the plan of God!
God did indeed have a plan for Joseph's life. When Potiphar's evil wife tried to seduce young, handsome Joseph, he ran. That should be an example for today's youth, or anyone for that matter. When the devil tries to seduce and entrap you, run! God will always make a way of escape. Don't linger around the devil and his playground.
When Joseph foiled the devil's evil plan by running, Potiphar's wife lied and told her husband Joseph tried to seduce her. The devil can do nothing but lie, but even she could not stop the plan of God in Joseph's life. Joseph had the favor of God on him. He was a Godly young man and God's favor was on him.
Joseph was wealthy and he was wise. Why? Because he served God and gave Him first place in his life. Be encouraged today and learn from the life of Joseph, who is a type of Christ. If you walk in love and forgiveness, you'll also have the favor of God in your life. The devil can't stop God's train of favor! It will run over him every time.
God did indeed have a plan for Joseph's life. When Potiphar's evil wife tried to seduce young, handsome Joseph, he ran. That should be an example for today's youth, or anyone for that matter. When the devil tries to seduce and entrap you, run! God will always make a way of escape. Don't linger around the devil and his playground.
When Joseph foiled the devil's evil plan by running, Potiphar's wife lied and told her husband Joseph tried to seduce her. The devil can do nothing but lie, but even she could not stop the plan of God in Joseph's life. Joseph had the favor of God on him. He was a Godly young man and God's favor was on him.
Joseph was wealthy and he was wise. Why? Because he served God and gave Him first place in his life. Be encouraged today and learn from the life of Joseph, who is a type of Christ. If you walk in love and forgiveness, you'll also have the favor of God in your life. The devil can't stop God's train of favor! It will run over him every time.
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