All posts tagged: God

How did this world get so messed up?

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Do you sometimes wonder what life is all about? Why were you born? How you can obtain true happiness? If you have ever asked these questions, then this very long post is just for you to get all you questions answered. QUESTION # 1: How Can You Know The Truth? Science, History and Observation You can learn many wonderful things about the world and its people through science, history, and observation. However, you cannot learn the answers to many of the great questions of life from these sources. They do not tell us how life began, what its purpose is, and what the future holds. The Bible Only the One who made the world can tell you how He did it and why. He tells us the truth about these things in His book, the Holy Bible. It is a book of instructions for living in this world and is proven to be historically reliable! In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Bible, Genesis 1:1) Through him all things were made; without …

The lost and found column: The lost son

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Part 3 I love reading the book of Luke. Chapter 15 is one of my favorite chapters in the entire book. Some people refer to it as the Lost and found Column of the Bible. That is because in this chapter we find three different parables: The parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost silver (coin) and the parable of the lost son. In this third column we are going to focus on the lost sheep. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to …

The lost and found column: The lost coin

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Part 2 I love reading the book of Luke. Chapter 15 is one of my favorite chapters in the entire book. Some people refer to it as the Lost and found Column of the Bible. That is because in this chapter we find three different parables: The parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost silver (coin) and the parable of the lost son. In this second column we are going to focus on the lost sheep. “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15-8-10 The love of God is relentless. It never ceases. It goes on and on until it finds what it is looking for. God …

Gold Digger

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And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” Matthew 13:52 It is very unusual for people to find treasures, gold or diamonds lying around loose on the ground. They usually have to search for them. They have to dig – they have to work had. The deeper they dig and the header they work, the more rewarding it is upon finding some treasure. I read an article about a man of God who has about 60,000 hours of Bible study under his belt and over 20,000 books in his library. I must add, books he has read. He devotes time to the study of God’s word. Come to think about it, it shows in his ministry – the wealth and treasure of God’s word he always has something incredible to share. Scripture calls it having – “things new and old” – which is a Jewish phrase …

Celebrate Small Stuff

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The great Michelangelo once sculpted a figure out of marble as his friend stood by and watched. Well, this friend of his left for a business trip and after a while he returned and didn’t really see any significant progress in the work that Michelangelo was doing. Upon hearing the criticism of his friend, Michelangelo told him that he had indeed done some work on the marble figure by softening certain parts, straightening the lips, defining the muscles and polishing here and there on the marble figure. To his surprise, his friend said that his efforts were trifle. But Michelangelo replied, Trifles they may be, but trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle. Are you in the habit of celebrating the small things in your life? Do you stop and acknowledge how blessed you are? Marriages and relationships fail because spouses pay little or no attention to the little things. Believers live in fear and ingratitude because they fail to stop for a moment and count their blessings. New converts grow discouraged and sometimes …

12 Powerful words or phrases that command heaven’s attention

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Part 2 The next six words or phrases I find powerful and commanding are from the very lips of Jesus. On each one of these occasions, something extraordinary happens after his declaration. Here are six of them: 7. It is finished… When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit… And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. John 19:30; Mark 15:38 8. Lazarus come out… Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? So they took away the stone… he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out…” The man who had died came out… John 11:40-44 9. I am He… Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said …

12 Powerful words or phrases that command Heaven’s Attention

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Part 1 The bible say “without faith it is impossible to please God.” God is always pleased when His children exercise their faith. It attract his attention and pleases him enormously. Here are a few instances in the bible when faith caught heaven’s attention: Our God is able to deliver… Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods. Daniel 3:16-24 Just say the word… I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, …

A Biblical Perspective on Gamling

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Part 1 Gambling, both legal and illegal, is a phenomenon gaining unprecedented acceptance. Because it is so widespread, Christians must look at this activity to determine the ethical and moral implications. Gambling Defined Advocates of gambling often try to place this activity in the same category as other ventures which involve risk. They describe farming, business, insurance, and even investments as gambling because the outcome is unpredictable and losses can occur. In this way they hope to transfer the respectability of legitimate ventures to gambling. L. M. Starkey, Jr., has made the following helpful observation: Life does have its normal risks which one must accept with faith and courage. These normal risks are in no sense equivalent to the risks in a game of chance. Gambling devises artificial risks in the hope of excessive gain far beyond what the investment of time, money, or skill would justify. In gambling the chance is unrelated to any creative effort called for by the farmer or the stockbroker in the responsible investment of his mental, monetary, and physical funds. 1. To distinguish …

A Biblical Perspective on Gambling

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Part 2 A careful reading of Scripture makes it clear there are many biblical principles which show gambling is an evil to avoid. When people recognize God’s authority they will honor the principles which show gambling is evil. 1. Gambling is wrong because it is a disregard of responsible stewardship. The Bible clearly teaches that all things belong to God. “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). Since all things belong to God, people are placed in the position of stewards who must give a proper accounting for everything given to them in trust. The first step in a faithful administration of this stewardship is the giving of self to God. Believers must recognize they are not their own (1 Corinthians 6:19). They have been redeemed with a price, not of silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:18,19). The churches of Macedonia set a worthy example of personal dedication when “they gave themselves first to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5). Life, with all …

The Bible is a book of Alignment

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The Bible is a book of alignment – you either align or you malign. Titus 2:3-5 speak out the things that make for solid doctrine…so that no one will malign the Word of God Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone to malign God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives. The idea behind this phrase – Things which are proper for sound doctrine – has to do with right living, not just right thinking. The Living Bible translates this “Speak up for the right living that goes along with true Christianity.” The New …