Living the Truth

My youngest child is one of a trillion young adults from the 'entitled generation' (not limited to) who want to re-write the Bible to suit her desires and opinions. 
The other day, she and I were discussing homosexuality and gay marriage. The views on gay marriage she has acquired out there in the big world of watered down Christianity are sad and unfortunate, to say the least. She said, "Mom, your attitude is really offensive, Jesus says that everyone has a right to love!" "I agree, they do," said I.
She continued, "If you agree with that then why don't you think God blesses gay marriage?" I organized my thoughts carefully and I explained, "God may give us free will, but he fully expects that we will follow the guidelines that he set up for our own protection. He also gifted us with the Holy Spirit to guide us through all things and warn us when we face temptations that go against the plans he has for us. It is not me or God who is offensive, what is offensive is that we choose to ignore such wonderful advice and blessings from Him at our own detriment." 

1 Corinthians 7:1-3 (ESV) Principles for Marriage

7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

God is very clear that he does not bless sexual relations that He finds less than righteous. It is so important to him that it is mentioned over fifteen times in the Bible. He wrote these guidelines and laws for our own protection. We can have all the discussions in the world about how God should rewrite the Bible to suit the needs of the people today and we can continue to ignore the portions of the Bible that make us uncomfortable, but it changes nothing. All we are doing is sticking our heads in the sand and tossing away our blessings.

I told my daughter that I believe that every person born into this world with some kind of an affliction. Something so great it can only be overcome through the blood of Jesus. That is what he wants, he wants us to come to him for help. When people say He won't give us more than we can handle they know nothing about God. 
Maybe you are a homosexual or you know in your heart that you are different and you don't understand why. When it comes to sin, it really doesn't matter what it is, thievery, gambling, drinking or drugs. Too pretty (or too handsome) for your own good, or you feel that you are a far cry from attractive in any way. 
Overly confident or not at all confident. Dreadfully selfish and you don't think it is possible to change? Plagued with anxiety or depression. 
Maybe one or more of these afflictions have caused you to hurt others or you have been hurt by someone with them. Either way, it is making you gun-shy of relationships or commitment for fear you will hurt or be hurt again. That is not what our Father wants for us. Tell Jesus.... He is waiting.

1  Corinthians 6:9-12 (ESV)9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 
                                                               
No matter what your sin is, and we all have something, give it to Him. 
Lay it at His feet. Allow him to deal with it. I can't promise you a painless process, for it is not. But what is the greater pain, the recovery or the affliction itself? He will cleanse you and love you through it and you will thank him for it and develop a love for him that is greater than any other love in this world. He wants to perfect us because he is our mighty daddy God and he loves us and he is most glorified when he brings us through a fire. Because I know I am a sinner, (dirty hands and a dirty soul-D.C.) I make every effort to honor and obey all of His laws, not just the ones that work for me. Alas, I am only human so I fail miserably from time to time.  Seeing the constant changes in our world and watching our countries decline in values and traditions is both frightening and aggravating for most of us. My daughter and so many others like her were raised in the truth, it was planted in their hearts. 
They need our prayers that those truths will be remembered.  

  Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)10 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

 and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

I find that God is always a gentleman. Because He loves us He is always concerned for our well being. It is that very concern that prompts him to remind us, humble us and correct us. I am willing to accept any and all of his correction because I know He is blessing me. I make every effort to learn from those corrections for fear that I may be tossing those blessings to the wind if I ignore Him. Because I know that his laws were written out of love for me, I love them and I don't believe them to be overly difficult to understand.  It feels good to be his servant and please Him. He wants to help us and guide us through all things. Don't ever forget...His love and plans for us are bigger and grander than any plans we could ever dream of creating for ourselves. Blessings!

      We are all born to sin and that's 
why we must be born again.

I love David Crowder's latest CD, Neon Steeple. I included a link for one of the songs. Enjoy!

Seek The Truth In All Things.

My youngest child is one of a trillion young adults from the 'entitled generation' (not limited to) who want to re-write the Bible to suit their desires and opinions. The other day, she and I were discussing homosexuality and gay marriage. The views on gay marriage she has acquired out there in the big world of watered down Christianity are sad and unfortunate, to say the least. She said, "Mom, your attitude is really offensive, Jesus says that everyone has a right to love!" 
"I agree, they do," said I. She continued, "If you agree with that then why don't you think God blesses gay marriage?" 
I organized my thoughts carefully and I explained, "God may give us free will, but he fully expects that we will follow the guidelines that he set up for our own protection. He also gifted us with the Holy Spirit to guide us through all things and warn us when we face temptations that go against the plans he has for us. 
It is not me or God who is offensive, what is offensive is that we choose to ignore such wonderful advice and blessings from Him at our own detriment. 

1 Corinthians 7:1-3 (ESV) Principles for Marriage

7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

God is very clear that he does not bless sexual relations that He finds less than righteous. It is so important to him that it is mentioned over fifteen times in the Bible. 
He wrote these guidelines and laws for our own protection. We can have all the discussions in the world about how God should rewrite the Bible to suit the needs of the people today and we can continue to ignore the portions of the Bible that make us uncomfortable, but it changes nothing. All we are doing is sticking our heads in the sand and tossing away our blessings. 

1  Corinthians 6:9-12 (ESV)9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

I told my daughter that I believe that every person born into this world with some kind of an affliction. Something so great it can only be overcome through the blood of Jesus. That is what he wants, he wants us to come to him for help. When people say He won't give us more than we can handle they know nothing about God. 
Maybe you are a homosexual or you know in your heart that you are different and you don't understand why. When it comes to sin, it really doesn't matter what it is, thievery, gambling, drinking or drugs. Too pretty (or too handsome) for your own good, or you feel that you are a far cry from attractive in any way. Overly confident or not at all confident. Dreadfully selfish and you don't think it is possible to change? Plagued with anxiety or depression. 
Maybe one or more of these afflictions have caused you to hurt others or you have been hurt by someone with them. Either way, it is making you gun-shy of relationships or commitment for fear you will hurt or be hurt again. That is not what our father wants for us. Tell Jesus.... He is waiting.  

                                                                
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.

No matter what your sin is, and we all have something, give it to Him. Lay it at His feet.  Allow him to deal with it. I can't promise you a painless process, for it is not. But what is the greater pain, the recovery or the affliction itself? 

He will  cleanse you and love you through it and you will thank him for it and develop a love for him that is greater than any other love in this world. He wants to perfect us because he is our mighty daddy God and he loves us and he is most glorified when he brings us through a fire. 

Because I am a sinner myself, (dirty hands and a dirty soul-D.C.) I make every effort to honor and obey all of His laws, not just the ones that work for me. Alas, I am only human so I fail miserably from time to time.  Seeing the constant changes in our world and watching our countries decline in values and traditions is both frightening and aggravating for most of us. My daughter and so many others like her were raised in the truth, it was planted in their hearts. They need our prayers that those truths will be remembered.  

  Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)10 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

 and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

I find that God is always a gentleman. He is always concerned for us and it is that very concern that prompts him to remind us, humble us and correct us. I am willing to accept any and all of his correction because I know He is blessing me. I make every effort to learn from those corrections for fear that I may be tossing those blessings to the wind if I ignore Him. Because I know that his laws were written out of love for me, I love them and I don't believe them to be overly difficult to understand. They were written for our protection. It feels good to be his servant and please Him. He wants to help us and guide us through all things.
Don't ever forget...His love and plans for us are bigger and grander than any plans we could ever dream of creating for ourselves.

   

                         We are all born to sin 

and that's why we must be born again.