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Sabbaths
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Sep 4, 2006 7:03 pm
168 Views
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One of the best kept secrets in the world is the 7th day of rest and blessing. Yes, you have heard about it, but I doubt if you have experienced it.
In the scriptures it is recorded that when the creation was finished that on the last day, number 7, that God ceased His creative work and blessed this day. Then He transferred this blessing to mankind, who if they were willing and smart, would accept His offer of also ceasing the weeks work of creative activity, stop doing what we were doing, put on the breaks, skid to a halt, and chill. If we somehow managed to make ourselves do this, we would also experience the blessing that was bestowed on this 7th day.
Well anyway, to inform you who have never been acquainted with Jewish culture and experienced Friday evening sundown to Saturday evening sundown, you are in for a very pleasant surprise and blessing.
In our go go competitive society, its not impossible to stop, its just not something that makes sense. However, think of it this way: God has made life so we can do in 6 days and probably better what people do who keep going and
plow on through the 7th day.
Also, its important to note that the 7th day is not Sunday. It is Friday evening sundown to Saturday evening sundown, one day. To close this out, I have tried it for over a year now, and I would never want to be without this 7th day of rest and blessing. What do I do on this Friday evening to Saturday evening? Not much. I read, attend a worship service, sleep, listen to music, and eat good food, and stay home a lot.
blessing,
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Dying and Living Links
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Sep 3, 2006 8:20 am
214 Views
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In computer science a link is defined as "A segment of text or a graphical item that serves as a cross-reference between parts of a hypertext document, or between files..."
In the spiritual world I believe the spirit of evil and the Spirit of good are both links that connect us to death and to life. WE are born with the dying link already activated. We have to be born again for the living link to become active and connect us to the world of good.
I feel we should click on the living link each morning when we wake up, and through out the day if we feel disconnected. The is following the Spirit and is our access to God and Family.
Both links are rewarding; but, the dying link has diminishing returns and leads to catastrophic failure, whereas, the living link leads to greater rewards with a wonderful conclusion.
Lets up link with life every day.
blessings,
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Mistakes At The Top & Our Culpability
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Sep 1, 2006 12:45 pm
195 Views
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Everyone knows that leaders make mistakes and followers suffer. World War I was full of mistakes that started it out. The Titanic in 1912 was sailing too fast in waters of the North Atlantic with icebergs. The Challenger space shuttle had leaky O rings especially during cold weather launches. The Columbia space shuttle mission controllers refused the offer of spy satellite observation of the space craft for damage to the tiles on the wing. The recent Conair jet crash involved only one traffic controller in the tower who had only 2 hrs of sleep. The USA has the most awesome lethal military in the history of the world, but still the Twin Towers in NY were successfully attacked and destroyed. The list goes on. There are awful mistakes made at the top. Why? Is it just the human thing to do? The answer is NO.
You and I are just as blameworthy, acting improperly, and we have to offer a me culpa or blame me too. The past is the past, and not much can be done to correct that. The present and future however are very much in our hands. How????
The Scripture tells us that we have not because we ask NOT. The Apostle Paul implored Christians to PRAY without ceasing. We are told to pray for governing authorities. How much or how little are you in prayer for our leaders? Do you pray for the US Congress, the Supreme Court, our military leaders, our police, our school boards, parents, church leaders?
Please note that God always has a good reason when He asks us to do something. It is my belief that much of the cause of leadership failure is failure of followers to intercede for them. The spirit world is still a mystery at best. But one thing is not a mystery at all; and that is the fate of the world is in the hands of christians and their prayer life. I am as guilty as anyone for neglecting to pray for those responsible for our lives.
If we want healing, The Lord plainly tells His people to pray and confess. Most of us start out our day with a prayer I am sure; but can we add a word or two for all of our leaders so we followers will be safe and sound, so as a result of our intercessory prayer our leaders will not make such awful mistakes?
What I am saying is that the safety of your life and mine is in the hands of our prayer. Its not our leaders alone who are responsible, but as much us, and perhaps even more is it in our lap.
blessings,
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The Important Things In LIfe
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Aug 29, 2006 8:23 pm
244 Views
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You were likely in some fashion taught years ago that you needed an education to get a job to make money to support yourself. Then you may have heard that there are three questions you needed to answer to guide your life from your youth: 1. Who am I going to marry, 2. What am I going to do for a career, 3. Who am I.
After many years of living, and reading the Bible and wisdom literature of the sages it is more clear to me that the important things in life are:
1. Home.
A home is protection, a secure place, some privacy, a place to raise children, a refuge, and space all to our own.
2. Family.
So much can be said about family. People who love us for who we are; our own offspring, and the legacy we leave to the world after us; and sometimes those who will take care of us when we need it later.
3. Business.
Each person should have a job or their own business if possible. money is important.
4. Church.
This is membership in God's family, our source of friends, and our future.
5. Health.
What good is retirement if we don't have our health; or what good is anything much if we don't have out health.
6. Friends.
We are not an island unto ourself. We have to have friends to be normal mentally, socially, and to grow in favor with God and people.
7. Clear Conscience.
The feeling of a clear conscience is like after a six month vacation.
So, if we have these we have so much. We may have these in varying stages of completion. If we are lacking any of these, then we are looking at a major source of our discontent.
blessings,
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I S P
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Aug 26, 2006 4:35 am
304 Views
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You not only have an ISP, or an internet service provider that connects your computer to the internet, spiritually speaking, we are an ISP in that we as christians connect this world to the spiritual world.
Indeed, we as christians are expeditionary temples, and seraphs of this earth. When we walk into a room, the atmospheric chemistry is changed by us. Inside, the blazing Holy Spirit makes some rue our presence, and others to feel convicted, and others to rejoice. We represent by our presence, the Eucharistic shew bread of Jesus.
Scripture tells us that we will drink poison, and tread on scorpions and be unharmed. Of course this is spiritual, meaning in this secularized world we are not injured in soul and spirit because of the insular presence and power of the Spirit. And, you thought you were not important, or effective? WE are indeed heavenly eurhythmics on earth. The Lord does His work and invites us to watch how it plays out; we are a visible exegeses of scripture wherever we are, wherever we go. The culpable world is convicted. As sergent-at-arms, we are sextants giving direction to a wondering and lost planet of people.
blessings
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Love Changes Everything
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Aug 25, 2006 3:22 pm
249 Views
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I don't know why but I just got a feeling to write about love; a subject I usually avoid like I would perfume, or anything effeminate. I don't see love anymore as feminine or even masculine. I believe love is beyond gender. It is the Bible description of God, but what is it? It is powerful and it changes anything and everything around it, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But, it is sure than nothing ever stays the same in its presence.
Scripture teaches us that this Love has been poured into the heart of the new born in Jesus. It changed us from that time and continues to do so. It brings us fame. It brings us glory. It bring us life. It brings us friends. Because love is inside, us we will always be ok.
You want to know what love is????? Love is the creative energy of God Himself. Yep, we have this indestructible, formidable, well spring of creative power residing in us that withstands all weathers, all experiences, and forges bonds that are unbreakable.
I keep thinking of Jesus and His love toward the city of Jerusalem, the nation it represented just before the time of his personal sacrifice. He wept for the city that was just about to crucify Him. Was He destroyed or hurt by the rejection? No way. He felt sad, sorry for His enemies that He loved. Of all things ! Try to wrap you mind around that one. If you can, you get close to understanding this creative energy called love. It leaves me speechless, without words, and like the angels, standing back in awe of Him. There is no doubt in my mind who is going to win, who is going to triumph. Yes, it is Love. He will win. So will we.
Be patient dear friends. I am working on love. Help! You tell me??
blessings,
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Do You Want A Mate Like You?
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Aug 25, 2006 3:03 pm
327 Views
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Because of some encouragement on this post about finding a mate, I felt it would be worthwhile to share it at large.
Having been around the block a time or two, most of us have learned that the right mate at the right time is much preferred to the wrong mate anytime. The stories of hurt are endless. I believe there are personal stories of love excelsior as well to be told, but we don't hear about those. So back to the drawing board. Maybe our turn will come. Just remember, the design of the building is what gets built. You probably won't get more than you bargain for, maybe even less.
Let it just be said that only when a woman is like the man she wants will she ever be with a man like her. When a man is like the woman he wants, he too will be with one like her. She or he has to be one to be found by one. If a woman wants better men in her life, all she has to do is bring her life up to the standard she wants in her man. For good women, good men are not hard to find. Nor, for good men are good women hard to find.
The question remains, if we have friends and family, do we really need more? If we say yes, then I believe we will likely find a partner not much more or much less than we are. So, do we want more of the same? Probably not. Maybe so.
I am not talking about how much our personalities are alike. What I am trying to say is that in character, meaning how much truth we have accepted and made our truth, will be the measure of compatibility between a man and woman in marriage, or any friendship, and in fact this is the amount of compatibility in any relationship thats christian. The only way a person can be better for the relationship is to have one of peace and harmony. How much truth we have in common, equals how much peace, equals how much compatibility, equals how much good the relationship is for us and those around us.
In short, how much truth in character we share is how compatible we are for each other to help in areas of our character that lack truth. Our personalities may be as different as the north and south pole.
blessings,
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Love Does Not Hurt
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Aug 24, 2006 7:46 pm
455 Views
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It is better to love and lose than not love at all. This statement does not even come close. Love does not get hurt. Love is impenetrable, and impregnable. It is indestructible and lasts forever. Love can be sad because of the failure of the ones loved. Love survives.
I used to worry about the love experience, that it made people more vulnerable. This is not so. Love makes people safe, secure, and survivors always.
Jesus said to us that the good news of the Kingdom would be preached to all the nations and then the end would come. What He is talking about is the announcement that Love is here to be received. It must be made know to the whole world everywhere.
The more I know about love the less I know. It is the safest thing in the world. It is sane, sensible, and survives. No one can take it away from us. It can reach the lowest hell or the highest heaven. NO, love does not hurt; love heals.
blessings,
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To Sad To Cry
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Aug 24, 2006 7:37 pm
322 Views
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Human nature can not change, but human actions do change. The experience of born again christians is often frustration with the unchangeable human nature referred to by Paul as our sin nature, and our new nature in Jesus.
Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are. This is the bottom line in knowing who someone is. John the Apostle said they went out from us because they were not of us. This is simply saying birds of a feather hang together. You and I will hang out or chill with the group or persons with whom we are most comfortable. This tells all.
Our human nature is too sad to cry over. It is adequately described in the New Testament in the book of Galatians, and Colossi ans as problems with sex, speech, satisfaction, and service. We all have a human nature all our life, and this is so sad. Yet, our spiritual nature gives us hope.
blessings,
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The Daily News; Is It Bad For You?
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Aug 22, 2006 3:35 pm
293 Views
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You are what you think. This is supported in wisdom literature and Scripture. The apostle Paul clearly said what we are to think: whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is just...etc.
Now comes the daily news. Most negative in sight, sound, and slanted to the negative is what our minds hear and see daily. This is not because the news is all bad. Its because shocking news, sad reports, disgusting diatribe is appealing, and attractive, even as abrasive as it is. Bad news sells. We pass over good news. The media has to make money. They will sell us whatever we will buy.
Should we watch the daily news? Yes to stay informed for prayer. Yes to stay current. No if we watch it too much. I have seen this over and over, when a TV is going in a room of people there is little or no conversation because the TV is just that powerful. Even if the sound is down or off, just the picture, still the conversation is interrupted.
Most people know intuitively there is a relationship between our mind, and our health. There is also a relationship between our mind and our attitude. Nobody in his right mind will argue against the importance of attitude to our life well being. The continuous 24 hours a day news broadcast from around the whole world now full of negative discouraging reporting in full sensory presentation of sight and sound will inform us but also depress and discourage us.
This calls for wisdom. You decide how much daily news is good for you. For me, once a day by TV and a glance at the newspaper is plenty to keep me in some sense of shock and dismay. Remember, faith is the victory over this world. I feel we should read scripture as much as we watch the daily news. Actually, I almost do now myself, as I just purchased, as everyone knows by know, an large print Bible just for this fun and edifying purpose. It keeps my spirit and attitude in the positive.
Blessings,
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To link to this blog (CaringInAction) use [blog CaringInAction] in your messages.
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