Climb Aboard!

Climb Aboard!

Listen to ​Thru the Bible. Climb aboard the Bible Bus and journey through the Word of God.

Get on the Bible Bus....(or helicopter)... with J.Vernon McGee.

A precious friend knew this preacher. She and her beloved husband loved this man.

I had never heard of him before that but after I heard his voice on the radio I will never forget his southern drawl. It is a beauty and I "hear" him as I have read his books.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Unpredictable Icebergs, Manipulators, Controllers and Abusers

Hebrews 13:9 

"Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings"

Many, many different peoples and kinds of people can be abusers. 

An Abuser, a Control Freak, a Manipulator, a Legalist, just a plain old Meanie... can be your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your spouse, your mother-in-law, et al, your supervisor, your government, your_ _ _ _ _ __  can all be misleading you with any and all sorts of "varied and strange teachings". 

Their "varied and strange teachings" could be telling you to hate certain people for whatever reasons they choose to proclaim - all the way to repeatedly telling you that you are stupid etc. 

These persons can just be hurtful emotionally - all the way to physically dangerous for you or they could be using God's Word, twisted* to control you in any manner which is extremely, spiritually dangerous to you.

Icebergs: 

You may have heard about icebergs from the infamous sinking of the ship, the Titanic in 1912.  In a closer study, icebergs themselves are quite interesting and unique. They are also a perfect analogy for Abusers of any kind which I will speak of below.

Seemingly peaceful, icebergs live out their lives on the ocean, but their potential energy is extremely significant.  This potential energy is deep within the bergs which can be released unexpectedly at any moment all along its path from its beginning to its end. 

Bergs are known as the "Deadly Destroyers on the High Seas". Their season in the Atlantic is March through July.  Each iceberg is unique as they break off of the west coast of Greenland then, laboriously float through ice flows full of every size of bergs.

The tonnage of the ice of which we can see above the ocean water is no measure of what is below the water level. This is why they are such a danger to the shipping industry.  Since the Titanic disaster there have been many varied safety measures put into place including observations which are now very high tech.

As icebergs take their long travels in the Atlantic Ocean with all their bumping and scrapings, they split, fracture, melt, turn over and over, and constantly change their shape. It has been said “they are masters of disguise” because of these changes and their constant turning over.

Another factor with icebergs is how they were formed. It all began with normal snow, which eventually compacted with air bubbles included. These air bubbles have a great deal to do with the iceberg as it travels. 

The air bubbles affect the melting, the fractures, the scrapings etc. making the iceberg even more fragile which makes the bergs turn over more often, changing their sizes and shapes as they travel. 

Icebergs melt during their whole journey. They melt from the top because of the sun and they melt from the bottom with the ocean currents. This constant melting is the main reason bergs are always about to roll over.

The biggest icebergs are the ones which make it to the Atlantic shipping lanes, but on the way down these huge bergs can crash into the local waters of Greenland and cause devastating tsunamis for those who live and work in the waters there.

All along their waterway path there is melting, crashing, rolling collisions, waves, escaping air bubbles, cracking fissures, the deep ocean currents controlling their travels all of which also cause of the rolling motions. At one moment a berg looks small, then it is huge as it rolls over. It is the constant movements, the constant rollings which make these massive bergs so very dangerous and unpredictable.**

What we have learned is that icebergs are massive, highly unstable, always rolling, always changing, dangerous, unpredictable, with most of its bulk underwater.***

The analogy between icebergs and abusers:

As we live in this fallen world we learn that people are sinners. We are all sinners, but some people go beyond the "normal" sinning towards the evil side where they become highly deceptive. Their aims are mostly to "get" whatever it is they desire. 

This is highly unfair, unrighteous, and ungodly. You already know this if you have ever been abused by anyone in any way.

As you have read the information about icebergs there were so many descriptive words concerning how they behave throughout their lifespan. 

These words could also be used for Abusers, Manipulators, Controllers:

Seemingly peaceful (there is always an under current)

Potential energy unexpectedly released (dangerous)

Deadly Destroyers (they are #1, you are an underling)

Constantly changing (keeps you guessing what the "rules" are)

Masters of Disguise (their "nice" act is fake)

Always rolling over (Gaslighting)

Tsunamis (always causing troubles, traumas)

Deep ocean undercurrents (always emotional undercurrents)

Constant (never a "downtime")

Highly unstable (but always in control of you, even if only with words)

Dangerous (Spiritually and/or Emotionally, Physically, Psychologically)

Unpredictable (keeping you always on edge)

Mostly under the surface (can hide their evil very well, masking it to keep you on your toes and controlled, always controlled.)

You can be free!  

Ephesians 4:14-24

..."we are no longer to be children, 

tossed here and there by waves and 

carried about by every wind of doctrine, 

by the trickery of people, by craftiness 

in deceitful scheming; 

but speaking the truth in love, 

we are to grow up in all aspects 

into Him who is the head, 

that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, 

being fitted and held together 

by what every joint supplies, according to 

the proper working of each individual part, 

causes the growth of the body for 

the building up of itself in love.

So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, 

that you are to no longer walk just as the 

Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds,

being darkened in their understanding, 

excluded from the life of God 

because of the ignorance that is in them,

because of the hardness of their heart; 

and they, having become callous, 

have given themselves up to indecent behavior 

for the practice of every kind of 

impurity with greediness.

But you did not learn Christ in this way, 

if indeed you have heard Him 

and have been taught in Him, 

just as truth is in Jesus, that, 

in reference to your former way of life, 

you are to rid yourselves of the old self, 

which is being corrupted in accordance 

with the lusts of deceit, and that you are 

to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

and to put on the new self, 

which in the likeness of God has been 

created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."...

Do this is to Glorify God!

****This pamphlet: see below

*evil people tend to twist God's Word to control others

**Glaciologists are the scientists who have accomplished these thorough studies of icebergs.

***One easy scientific experiment we can all do is pour ourselves a glass of water with ice. Where does most of the ice sit in the water? (below the surface)

****Received from local Women's Ministry

Information concerning icebergs is from the BBC documentary:  The Iceberg that Sank the Titanic

 

O Rest Beside the Weary Road

Merry Christmas!

Praises to our God and King!

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth,

To touch their harps of gold:

"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,

From heaven's all-gracious King."

The world in solemn stillness lay,

To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,

With peaceful wings unfurled,

And still their heavenly music floats

O'er all the weary world;

Above its sad and lowly plains,

They bend on hovering wing,

And ever o'er its babel sounds

The blessed angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife

The world has suffered long;

Beneath the angel-strain have rolled

Two thousand years of wrong;

And man, at war with man, hears not

The love-song which they bring;

O hush the noise, ye men of strife,

And hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load,

Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way

With painful steps and slow,

Look now! for glad and golden hours

come swiftly on the wing.

O rest beside the weary road,

And hear the angels sing!

For lo!, the days are hastening on,

By prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever-circling years

Comes round the age of gold

When peace shall over all the earth

Its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world give back the song

Which now the angels sing.

*

Praise God for He lifts our heads in 'our crushing loads', 

He carries us when we are 'bending low', 

our 'painful steps along our climbing ways', 

and because of His Son who came to save us from our sins 

we can 'rest beside the weary road' 

until we are with Him in glory!

What a Beautiful Sign!

 

God's Creation: Rainbow promise   

Genesis 9:12-17

"God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations; I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall serve as a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. 

It shall come about, when I make a cloud appear over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. 

When the rainbow is in the cloud, then I will look at it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 

And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

*

We live by two lakes, two rivers, and one natural slough which is practically in our back yard. We have enjoyed the wildlife very much through the years and the many, many rainbows which cross our open skies.

This week the weather turned warmish for a couple of days and I suppose this may have had something to do with the very large amounts of Canada Geese in flight, swirling low above us along with their wonderful honking. 

At first I was use to it and went about my business. After a while I realized that this was something spectacular happening. I decided to sit and just enjoy the "air show".  Even the kitties were in wonder at it all. At first they crouched and hid, and then they came out looking up with me.

It was quite a show while sitting to watch comfortably with the warm breezes. Watching this beautiful sight brought back such beautiful, sweet memories. We had lived for quite a while in the Chicago area where there were many a retention pond for Canada Geese to stay the winter throughout that huge area.

Although the LORD was lifting my head, this day my heart was homesick for our far away home with all the honking of the Geese. Comfort was there, and seemingly its warm safety. 

I thought about these memories for a while with my sorrows turning into great agony.  Soon enough reality set in while I was allowing the LORD to hold me tightly, safely, comfortingly even in my sorrows and long ago happy memories!

We live far away from those days of big cities, honking geese, and happy memories. The LORD was with us then and He is still mighty in our life here. He is even more  to us now than ever before.  So much growing up in Him! What Joy! 

I sat and knew that THIS is NOT our home! What child of His could stand to live here when we could be with Him in His mighty Kingdom for eternity! Looking forward to His return!

This World is NOT my Home!!!

John 15:18-19

...“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."...

John 18:36

"...Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. 

If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” ...

Hebrews 13:7-14

..."Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.

Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.

Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood.

So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come."...

1Peter 2:11-17

..."Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.

Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."...

*

Hope to see you, dear reader, there!

*

The LORD is my Refuge and Strength.

Even though music can be so wonderful and all the kitties also! - it is really the LORD God Almighty who is the best refuge in our lives.

Psalm 46:1-3

"God is our refuge and strength,

A very ready help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, 

though the earth shakes

And the mountains slip 

into the heart of the sea;

Though its waters roar and foam,

Though the mountains quake 

at its swelling pride."

*

-from the net: Weegee the Winter cat

A good laugh is medicine

 

Proverbs 17:22

"A joyful heart is good medicine,

But a broken spirit dries up the bones."

He is Hidden in my Heart

 

My innermost person is full of sorrows upon sorrows.

I have my own great agonies, but also those I love have their own great agonies, and those I have only heard of have agonies.

The only real place to turn is to the LORD. He is the One who can lift our heads.

This world is not our home. Every day points this out to us with more and more stings.

This CD (Hidden in My Heart, Volume 2) has His Word woven into each sweet melody. It is my favorite to hear anytime, but it is also the one I turn to when I can no longer think, I can not think clearly, or I can not think rightly. When sorrows overflow I listen to this over and over as I continue to do all my "next things" for the LORD.

I understand that some people can not deal with music, even sweet gentle music with scripture, because their agonies are far too great for them. Only His mighty Word is their solace. 

Praise God that He never forsakes us!

Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, I will also help you,

I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Luke 1:37

"For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Romans 8:31

"What then shall we say to these things? 

If God is for us, who is against us? 

Numbers 6:24-26

"The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord cause His face to shine on you,


And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His face to you,

And give you peace.’

May you seek His face, cry out to Him in truth, allow Him to hold you and guide you, and trust Him to be your Savior in Jesus Christ. 

His mercies are new every day!

* "next things" are all the things I need to do, I have to do, or I should do to keep my mind occupied on Him even in my sorrows.

Gingerbread House

So Sweet!

Internet image
 

Appreciating Illustrators: Holly Hobbie

All snug in their beds.

Beautiful snowy homestead. I just love her illustrations!

The Joy of Vintage Fabric

 

My dear mother was a seamstress and like many of us she had her big stash of fabric.

I grew up with many, many hand made outfits  as well as doll clothes :o)

As the years went by I was married with my own fabric stash growing and she would often pass me fabrics when I would visit her.

I made this pinafore from fabric she had had since I was a little girl. How thrilled I was to be able to use it for my own little one.

Decades later I am ready to repurpose this fabric.

Until something wonderful comes to me, this is what I have chosen for this year: The back of  kitchen chair.

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow!

 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, my soul,
 And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, my soul,
 And do not forget any of His benefits;

Who pardons all your guilt,
 Who heals all your diseases;

Who redeems your life from the pit,
 Who crowns you with favor and compassion;

Who satisfies your years with good things,
 So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

The Lord performs righteous deeds
 And judgments for all who are oppressed.

He made known His ways to Moses,
 His deeds to the sons of Israel.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
 Slow to anger and abounding in mercy.

He will not always contend with us,
 Nor will He keep His anger forever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
  Nor rewarded us according to our guilty deeds.

 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
 So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west, 
So far has He removed our wrongdoings from us.

Just as a father has compassion on his children,
 So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

For He Himself knows our form;
 He is mindful that we are nothing but dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
 Like a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
 And its place no longer knows about it.

 

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him, And His justice to the children’s children,

 

To those who keep His covenant
 And remember His precepts, so as to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
 And His sovereignty rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels,
 Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
 Obeying the voice of His word!

 

Bless the Lord, all you His angels,
 You who serve Him, doing His will.

Bless the Lord, all you works of His, 
In all places of His dominion;
 Bless the Lord, my soul!

*

He will not forget me!

Sweet is the promise I will not forget thee,

Nothing can molest or turn my soul away;

E’en though the night be dark within the valley,

Just beyond is shining an eternal day.

I will not forget thee or leave thee,

In My hands I’ll hold thee,

In My arms I’ll fold thee,

I will not forget thee or leave thee;

I am thy Redeemer, I will care for thee.

Trusting the promise I will not forget thee,

Onward I will go with songs of joy and love,

Though earth despise me,

Though my friends forsake me,

I shall be remembered in my home above. 

I will not forget thee or leave thee,

In My hands I’ll hold thee,

In My arms I’ll fold thee,

I will not forget thee or leave thee;

I am thy Redeemer, I will care for thee.

When at the golden portals I am standing,

All my tribulations, all my sorrows past;

How sweet to hear the blessèd proclamation,

Enter, faithful servant, welcome home at last. 

I will not forget thee or leave thee,

In My hands I’ll hold thee,

In My arms I’ll fold thee,

I will not forget thee or leave thee;

I am thy Redeemer, I will care for thee.

-Gabriel

1 Peter 5:6-7

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you."

Deuteronomy 33:12

“May the beloved of the Lord live in security beside Him 

Who shields him all the day long,

And he lives between His shoulders.”

*

Glory to God for He holds us safely between His Almighty Shoulders!

The Crazy Cat Lady

 

My Kind of Binge-Watching

 

Oh, my word! *Watch Out and Close the DOOR!*

 

Ephesians 4:14-16

"...As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love..."

Colossians 2:8

"...See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ..."

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

"...Do not quench the Spirit, do not utterly reject prophecies, but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil..."

*

Thank you to:  http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/

ABIDE: Resting in the LORD

Matthew 11:28-30 

“Come to Me, 

all who are weary 

and burdened, 

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you 

and learn from Me, 

for I am gentle 

and humble in heart,

and you will 

find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is comfortable, 

and My burden is light.”

*

Showers of Blessings from the LORD

Ezekiel 34:26

 "...I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will make showers fall in their season; they will be showers of blessing..."

There shall be showers of blessing: 

This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing, 

Sent from the Savior above. 

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need:

Mercy drops 'round us are falling, 

But for the showers we plead. 

There shall be showers of blessing-- 

Precious reviving again; 

Over the hills and the valleys, 

Sound of abundance of rain.

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need:

Mercy drops 'round us are falling, 

But for the showers we plead. 

There shall be showers of blessing: 

Send them upon us, O Lord;

Grant to us now a refreshing; 

Come and now honor Thy Word. 

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need:

Mercy drops 'round us are falling, 

But for the showers we plead. 

There shall be showers of blessing: 

Oh, that today they might fall, 

Now as to God we're confessing, 

Now as on Jesus we call! 

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need:

Mercy drops 'round us are falling, 

But for the showers we plead. 

*

People let us down: Expectations and Dealing with our Hearts.

 In this series of comics Mr. Schulz had Peppermint Patty needing a place to stay while her father was on a trip. 

Marcie offered her home right away, but Peppermint Patty completely ignored Marcie's invitation and instead pursued Charlie Brown for his home. 

Meanwhile, she also ignored Charlie Brown's insistence that his family had no place for a visitor.

What she experienced was not what she had expected. Great disappointments upon disappointments mounted.

Finally when her father is back home she complains to Marice who then explains why she really can't complain about her stay.

In Real Life

We all tend to have great expectations in our lives.  "Things" should be this way and when they are not, we are disappointed. 

Disappointments upon disappointments mount. Grumblings, anger, sadnesses, depressions....

Hebrews 13:1-14

"Let love of the brothers and sisters continue.

Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 

“I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” 

so that we confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.

Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.

Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood. So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come."...

*

God's Creation in our homes

 

His Grace, and Love never fails. He showers us with His mercies!

 

The LORD loves His own.

As a human I wonder sometimes how He can love us! His very own children can sin so much and grieve Him so even though we all know better!

Ephesians 2:1-10

 "And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

Every day is new for us in Him. 

We have been bought with a price so HUGE even though so long ago. Jesus gave His all for us to become children of God. We have been washed clean even if we came long after Jesus' sacrifice.

Isaiah 1:16-18

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
 

Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.


Stop doing evil,

Learn to do good;
 

Seek justice,


Rebuke the oppressor,


Obtain justice for the orphan,


Plead for the widow’s case.

“Come now, and let us debate your case,”


Says the Lord,


“Though your sins are as scarlet,


They shall become as white as snow;


Though they are red like crimson,


They shall be like wool."

John 1:24-34

"...And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

John answered them, saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.”

These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.

The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, 

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He in behalf of whom I said, ‘After me is coming a Man who has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’ And I did not recognize Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”

And John testified, saying, 

“I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Even so, here we are, His children all through time as we wait for His second coming and the fruition of His marvelous salvation.  Here we are continuing to slip into this sin or that sin. 

It is very much like forest fires as they pop up and ignite more little areas as the fires spread, becoming out of control. And so do our sins as we allow ourselves to continue on in our wrongdoing, our wrong thinking. 

Maybe we "safely" think we are saved by His marvelous grace so, of course, He will forgive us in our new sins. And this is true that He continues to forgive His own, but He also will discipline His own.

Matthew 18:1-10

'At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  And He called a child to Himself and set him among them, and said, 

“Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.

“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes!

“And if your hand or your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or without a foot, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

And if your eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell.

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones; for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven."

Psalm 51

"Be gracious to me, God, 

according to Your faithfulness;
 

According to the greatness of Your compassion, 

wipe out my wrongdoings.

Wash me thoroughly from my guilt
 

And cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my wrongdoings,


And my sin is constantly before me.

Against You, You only, I have sinned


And done what is evil in Your sight,


So that You are justified when You speak


And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in guilt,


And in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,


And in secret You will make wisdom known to me.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;


Cleanse me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness,


Let the bones You have broken rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins


And wipe out all my guilty deeds.

Create in me a clean heart, God,


And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,


And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,


And sustain me with a willing spirit.

 

Then I will teach wrongdoers Your ways,


And sinners will be converted to You.

 

Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, 

the God of my salvation;


Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

 

Lord, open my lips,


So that my mouth may declare Your praise.

 

For You do not delight in sacrifice, 

otherwise I would give it;


You do not take pleasure in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;


A broken and a contrite heart, God, 

You will not despise.

 

By Your favor do good to Zion;


Build the walls of Jerusalem.

Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,


In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;


Then bulls will be offered on Your altar."

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Wisdom from Snoopy: take a break now and then

 

Merry Christmas! from the Beaver Family

We are All Sinners with a Choice to Move Ahead with the LORD

 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation."

Titus 3:1-11

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people.

For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This statement is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and beneficial for people.  But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are useless and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, knowing that such a person has deviated from what is right and is sinning, being self-condemned."

Romans 8:1-17

"Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 

If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."

1 Peter 1:1-3

..."To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

1 John 3:1-3

"See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

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