Another Great Promise to add to the last one.

I just want to build up your faith in God's promises and yesterday we talked about terrorism and not being afraid to die because we have such a great promise waiting for those who die in Christ.  So today I would like to strengthen your faith a little more by sharing another great promise along with yesterdays.

John 14:1-3  "Let not your heart be troubled you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In MyFathers house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

Don't let your heart be troubled my friend, if you believe in God you also believe in Christ and He is preparing a place for us in His kingdom and His promise is sure that He will come again.

Matthew 24:30,31  "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect fro the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Doesn't that get you excited friends, let's be sure that we are ready for that great event that will end all the terror and sin in this world.  Everyone will be one with Christ and His Father and with the Angels.  The wicked will be destroyed and we will reign with Christ forever and ever.  Get yourself ready and pray for your families and help them to see the great reward that God has planned for His people.  Nothing will equal what God has planned for His elect, nothing, 'eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."1 Corinthians 2:9.

If you want to read a description of what heaven and the new earth will be like, read Revelation 21,22. It's a beautiful land where everyone is loving and kind and sin no longer reigns, no tears there, no heartache, no pain, no sickness, happiness will pervade the atmosphere.  I long for that day and want to make sure my heart is entwined with the heart of Christ day by day until that great day.
Please I beg you to be ready, you will never regret your decision to follow Christ.  Grandma Joan

Terrorism and a calming spirit.

With all the terrible shootings that are happening around the world and even here on America's soil, terror strikes the heart of most people.  What do you think the reason is for people to be so terrified of death?  Probably the biggest reason is they are not sure what takes place after death.  Will you bear with me as I use the Bible to explain this subject.  I will do my best although I am not a preacher, I have no fear of death and good reason.  Here it is:

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
What are wages?  Isn't it something that we earn for what we have done?  So if we live a life of sin, then we have good reasons to fear death.  If we live a life in Christ, we will have eternal life in Christ.

God has never asked us to believe in Him for no reason, nor has He asked us to live for Him for no reason.  Jesus died for us that we might live eternally with Him.  That is the reward for us that choose to live for Him and let Him clean up our life of sin.  If we choose to live a life of sin, then the reward is death, eternal death.  So there is good reason why He has made it His goal to save sinners from their sin, not in their sin.

John 6:13  "I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have not hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Jesus called death a sleep in several places and the people laughed Him to scorn until they saw that He meant they were sleeping until He should call them forth from their death like sleep.

Do these words comfort you?  They should, the price of redemption is cheap enough, to live for Christ is cheap enough for the reward He has promised to those who love Him and wait longingly for His second coming which is just around the corner.  Those who die in the Lord are just sleeping in their graves until Jesus comes and He will raise them from their graves before He calls those who remain on earth that have lived for Him.  There is no reason to believe that sinners are in heaven when He has asked us to give up our sinful life for a life of victory in Jesus.

What a great hope the Christians have to know that they are going to go up with Christ when He comes and live with Him forever.  That's why I have no fear of death.  If I die, it will only seem like seconds when I hear Jesus call me from my grave and my loved ones who have lived for Him too.

So if terrorists come, know that they can kill the body but not the soul that Jesus is saving for eternal life.  He has promised and He will keep His promise, we just need to believe His promises and live for Him and our spirit will be calm no matter what comes or happens.   I hope this has given you much hope and taken any fear or terror from your heart.  Grandma Joan

Even as God has forgiven us.

Ephesians 4:32  "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."  I want to permeate my soul with the attitude of forgiveness and I believe through Christ I can do that.  Do you think that is possible.?  I do.  He has done so much for me already I have no doubt that He can fill my heart and mind with forgiveness.   I already feel Him at work on my heart since my last blog.

It really is easy to get rid of bad feelings, grudges, hate and all that stuff if we just give it to Christ who then takes it to the Father as our intercessor, and the Father loves us as He loves His Son, I know some of you probably won't believe this but if He gave His Son's life for our sins, then He has to love us as no other being could.  And of course Jesus gave up His life for us as well  What love is this?

God has forgiven me over and over again and I can see that it is possible through Christ that I can do the same thing, but I need to follow Matthew 18 to allow that to happen so am going to try to do that to the best of my ability..  Will let you know how that works.  You can pray for me on this adventure.

In the mean time, study for yourself about forgiveness, as I have been looking things up in the Bible,  I see that it is a most important trait in the Christian character.  This is short today, must get things together, have to do some work at the church tonight.  We are having a 'Walk Through Bethlehem' and it is worth seeing.  My son and I are both working there for the four nights that we have it.  Tonight being the last night.  We have had so far around 1,400 visitors, tonight is usually the biggest.

God bless each of you with a heart full of forgiveness and I pray for the same for myself.  Grandma Joan

Forgiveness again.

This post today has to do with forgiving again and again, over and over.  I desperately need this or I wouldn't be studying this topic , I hope someone out there needs it too and is helped by it.  Unforgiveness is one of the hardest sins to overcome and I guess that is why Christ gave us the example when He was hanging on the cross and prayed for those that crucified him.  A hard thing indeed for us to do the same, especially when the hurt goes deep into the heart and cuts like a knife.
I have had this happen to me in the last 3-4 months and am seeking forgiveness every day and sometimes  or lots of times during the day.  So bear with me as I share from my heart.

Matthew 18:21,22  "Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?'  Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'"

 This is a hard saying for me, I have forgiven this person over and over but the hurt keeps coming back again and again.  So I keep searching and forgiving until I find a solution.

Matthew 18: 15-17  "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you  and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. "

In this case I'm not sure this is the way to handle it because of the circumstance and of who the person is.  I am still seeking help.

According to the Scriptures, forgiveness means: Blot out, Isaiah 43:25; Remission, Matthew 26:28;
Pardon, Isaiah 55:7;  Remember no more, Jeremiah 31:34.

When God forgives us He blots out and gives us Remission and Pardon and He Remembers them no more, but is that possible for us?  I don't know.  I'm still seeking.

Psalm 6: 8-10  "Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.  The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer.  Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly."

I know that God has heard my prayers over and over to give me forgiveness for this person or persons.  I know that He has seen the tears that have been shed over this and has received my prayer. I pray that He will take it into His hands and cause those who have done this great hurt to be ashamed of what they have done and greatly troubled.  I pray that it will happen suddenly.  I am greatly stressed and it has affected my health.

Those of you who read my blog, please pray for me, this is an emergency case for me.  I believe God will take care of it but I hope soon, He knows my condition and how much I can take. Thank you for reading and caring, I know you do or you wouldn't be a faithful reader.  Grandma Joan

Some questions and answers.

Question 1.  What guidance may be obtained from a study of the Bible
Answer: Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

I am so thankful to have a guide that is sure and unmistakably true that we can depend on.

Question 2.  For what purpose were the scriptures given to man?

Answer:  Romans15:4  "For whatsoever things were written aforetime,were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11  "Now all these things happened unto them for examples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come."
2 Timothy 3:16,17  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect. thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

The scriptures were given for our instruction and in learning the things of God and what He would love to work out in our lives.

Question 3.  How were men inspired to write the these books of scripture?

Answer:
2 Timothy 3;16  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God".
2 Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of men, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

Question 4.  How should we regard the writings of the Bible?

Answer:
1Thessalonians 2:13  "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you who believe."

Notice that we must believe for the scriptures to work in and for us and thank God all the time for giving us His word to guide us.

Question 5.  Why is it important for us to understand the Bible?

Answer:  
2 Timothy 3:15  "And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Matthew 22:29  "Jesus said unto them, 'ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.'"

The study of the Scriptures make us wise unto salvation and a lack of knowledge may cause us to misinterpret the Scriptures.  That may be the reason for so many religions today.  We need to be wise for our own good and eternal life.  I hope you have enjoyed these Q &A.  More tomorrow.  Grandma Joan

Controlling yourself made possible.

Proverbs 25:28  "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls." Satan would love to see us broken down and having no rule over our own spirits.  And he does control lots of people and they don't seem to have any control over their tongue or their actions.  Haven't you noticed people like that.  I know for a while, I didn't seem to have very good control over my own tongue and I noticed it was very hurtful to whoever I said things too.

Then one morning when I was having my worship, God impressed my mind with who was causing me this trouble, I was letting Satan rule my tongue, not all the time but a few times it got the best of me and I crashed under Satan's temptation.  Have you ever done that?  And then regret what you said with all your heart.  I felt like a city broken down without any self-control.  Proverbs calls it walls.  I read somewhere in my studies some time back, even a few years so can't tell the reference but anyway using my own wording.  'Angels are like a wall of fire put around us so we do not stumble.'  I have thought of that so often.  So glad to have that wall of fire, but it is only when we submit to God can He set His angels about us to protect us.  I want that wall of fire about me in the worse way, don't you?

We can get out of control in many ways but the worst way is with our tongue.  The book of James has a lot to say about the tongue.

James 1:26  "If anyone among you think he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, that man's religion is useless."  Do we claim to be religious and can't control our tongue?  Our religion would be useless to us if that is the case.  There is so much to self-control.

James 3:2  "For we all stumble in many things. If any does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body."  Wow!  What a statement, 'able to bridle the whole body'.  Don't you wish you could bridle your whole body?  I do and here is the instruction on how to do just that.

Proverbs 12:15  "The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise."  I find it difficult to try and help someone younger than I to steer them away from trouble, they always seem to think they no better than I.  I don't consider myself as a counselor but my years of living have certainly given me lots of experience to help others if they tend to want to listen.  Some do and some don't, where do you find yourself?  I don't think I have one friend that is older than me, I'm sure there are lots of people out there that are, but they are not my friends.  I would like to counsel with someone older and wiser.  It would help with some of life's problems.  I love the following verse:

Proverbs 3:5  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths."  I guess from going over this verse again that I don't need someone older to counsel me, do I?   I just need to  trust in the Lord with all my heart and don't lean on my own understanding, just acknowledge Him and He will direct my ways.
That is the best counsel that we can find for self-control.  I love it.  Who else can we trust more than we can trust God?  There is no one wiser, that knows us better and that loves us more than He does.
Let's trust Him with all our hearts to give us the self-control that we need so that we do not fall into condemnation.  Grandma Joan

Talebearing

I am trying to clean up little traits of character in my own life and these different topics are helping me a lot.  Hope they are doing the same for you.  This morning the thought came to me that even little things that we tell sometimes hurt people and I don't want to be guilty of hurting anyone.  I know that criticism hurts too, very much, sometimes to the point where we really get discouraged and can't function in that area any more or don't want to.  It breaks our spirits when we feel condemned.  We don't want to be responsible for breaking anyones spirit, sometimes it will destroy their will to do good, especially children, but it does that to many, not just children, but children are most vulnerable.

Proverbs 11:9  "The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor."

Proverbs 11:13  "A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter."

This is how we destroy people and also how a faithful person can help by concealing what is going around, we can stop the gossip with us.  I know that I don't want to destroy my neighbor.  I have a little experience about that.

We live in our Motorhome in an RV park and my neighbor looks exactly like I remember the thief looked like that broke into my home a couple of years ago.  Stole all my electronic equipment and some money.  I felt really uneasy having him for my neighbor but the longer I'm here the more I don't think he is the one.  But I don't know.  I haven't told anyone except my son and he needed to know because the uncle of the boy that robbed me came in my back door in my home and didn't know that I had a German Shepherd dog and the dog took him out in a hurry.  So if it is him, I have a reason to be scared of him and his family, but I really don't think it is.  I wouldn't want to ruin his reputation here in the park.

Proverbs 12:18  (last part)  "The tongue of the wise promotes health."  I want to be healthy.

Proverbs 13:3  "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction."  I want my life to be preserved too.

Years ago I was having trouble with my legs going numb after a little bit of walking and some lady told around that there was nothing wrong with me and that I was just making it up.  I finally went to the doctor and I was in bad shape nerve wise in my abdomen and after surgery, I walked nearly at a run for years.  I was always a fast walker anyway and was told by friends who were with me to slow down.  The gossip really hurt because I am not a pretender at all, if I am ill or hurting, I never make it up, I find out what is wrong and deal with it.  I am so sorry that people need to find excuses for not dealing with their own feelings but instead make stuff up to cover their own hateful feelings.  Sort of like the fanatic, huh?

Proverbs 21:23  "Whoever guards his mouth  and tongue keeps his soul from troubles."  O, how true that is.  There is enough trouble in this world without us associating with trouble.  It's good to stay away from gossipers and troublemakers, don't you think?  I want to end this study with the following verse from:

Proverbs 25:11  "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."  Let's make sure that our words are fitly spoken all the time.  It might even be a good idea to mull the thought over before speaking it, what do you think?  A great study on talebearing and criticism.  I learned to watch my speech very closely, did you?  My desire is to be like Jesus and I am sure He never spoke a hurtful word.  He did tell the Pharisees what they were like but it wasn't done in anger, it was always in love hoping that they would reform, but most of them didn't.  So if I need to rebuke someone, it better be in love or not done at all.  That's what I have learned today.  Grandma Joan