Most Liked Religion & Spirituality Blogs (1,491)

Change... no one likes change, no matter how we complain, murmur, and grumble about conditions or something that we feel needs to be changed, or done about such and such. When something is done, we continue to murmur, complain, and grumble when it effects us in our comfort zones. But as long as the change does not come near our door of what we think is our area (s) of tranquility, we are content to complain, murmur, and grumble and find fault (s), or play the blame game, as to why such and such needs to be changed, or what should be done or should not have been done, or its not right the way a thing is done, and it should have been this way or another.
Yet, those who complain have no concrete strategies or creative ideas as to what or how a things should have been done, nor is there a volunteer to get it done for the sake of getting it done to bring about a positive change. No one seems to be the first to make the move toward change. There are those who enjoy complacency and mediocrity in the mist of their complaining and murmuring, as well as finding inner relief by complaining and murmuring... its chronic and habitual.

God teaches us that transformation occurs when there is a renewing of our minds, and there is a time and season for everything under the sun, which brings about change. Nothing stay the same, in the positive or negative movement and turning of life-cycles of change; our bodies change, our relationships change, our children change, our families change, our finances change, our friends change, our emotional and mental responses change, the times and seasons change from winter to spring, to summer to Fall… there is a time and season for all things under the heaven to make a change. Everything MUST, AND MAKES a change except, GOD.

All forms of change, whether large or small, or positive or negative are for the betterment of our well being, and our daily living when we surrender and accept, submit and co-operate with such experiences change brings.

Those who have ears to hear, listen to what God speaks about CHANGE that we experience in out life: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck (harvest) that which was planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down (tear/clear out) and a time to build up (restore); a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away (get rid of ), and a time to gather what has been throw away together (bring back again); a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time for peace. What profits do you have from the work that you do? I have seen the travail (pain), that God has given to the sons and daughters of men to be exercised in it. God has made every thing beautiful in His own time, also He has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end…. That which has been is now, and that which is to be, has already been, and God requires that which is past."

THERE IS A TIME FOR CHANGE IN ALL THINGS!

A compilation Nov 11, 2014

Psalm 139:14 makes the well-known statement, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” … What does it mean?

First, these words are a clear statement about the amazing capabilities of the human body God has created. Our bodies are made of billions of cells and a myriad of parts that can only be adequately explained by a loving and wise Creator and Designer.(1)

Second, this verse gives an indication of our value from God's perspective. He designed us. Much care is involved in the creation of each human being. As the verses immediately following say, “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”(2)

Third, this verse reveals the inestimable worth of all human life. A direct application of this verse is the protection of life at all levels, from the womb to the final breath of a person’s life. This is why Christians care deeply about the protection of life in the womb,(3) caring for those mistreated or undervalued by others in society,(4) and for the elderly and those with terminal illnesses. As 1 John 4:19 shares, “We love because he first loved us.”

Fourth, God’s qualities of having all power (omnipotence) and all knowledge (omniscience) are revealed in this verse. God asked Job, “Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?”(5) It’s a rhetorical question; the answer is, of course, God. No one else can take the credit for creating every person. No one else knows each person at the most intimate level. The same God who created the universe(6) also knows the number of hairs on our head.(7)

Finally, He has created us in such wisdom, beauty, and power, and the only proper response is to love and honor Him. As the Psalms note elsewhere, “There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.”(8)

*
These verses give the assurance that God is with you regardless of what you are experiencing in life at the moment. At times when you feel like God is far from you, this great psalm brings comfort as a reminder that He is ever present and aware of your problems and needs.—David Peach

*

You are special! You are part of a magnificent, vast, overall plan. You can’t see that plan, but I can. You can’t see how beautifully you fit in with the overall panorama of life and the balance of the universe, but I can. Someday you will see it too, and you will marvel together with Me at how wonderfully everything came together.

You are unique. There has never been a person like you, nor will there ever be another just like you. That’s one of the things I like most about you. Resist the temptation to look at yourself negatively or to focus on what you think are your shortcomings, weaknesses, inabilities, your less-than-perfect body or personality or whatever. You are fulfilling the purpose for which you were created. I love you just the way you are, and I love you as though you were the only person in the world.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy

*
1 See Genesis 1:26–27.
2 Psalm 139:15–16.
3 See Psalm 139:13.
4 See Proverbs 31:8–9.
5 Job 38:36.
6 See Genesis 1:1.
7 See Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7.
8 Psalm 86:8–10.


Anchor TFI Online

We believe that God’s Law of Love as explained in Matthew 22:35–40 should govern every aspect of a Christian’s life and interactions with others. An expert in the Mosaic Law tested Jesus with this question: “‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” We therefore believe that a Christian’s actions should be motivated by unselfish, sacrificial love—the love of God for our fellow man.

God’s Law of Love is the ultimate fulfillment of Biblical law, including the Ten Commandments, as it fulfills the intent of such laws. “All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14). We therefore believe that through Christ’s salvation and His Law of Love, Christians are released from the Mosaic laws in the Old Testament and are no longer required to observe them. Instead, they are held to a higher law—Christ’s Law of Love, which should guide all their interactions with others.

Romans 13:8–10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Galatians 3:23–25 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Matthew 5:38–46 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?


TFI

If CS was a geographical region and not a site in the cyber world then surely it would have been the Holy Land of the Internet.

We have been invaded by wave upon wave of crusaders waving the banners of their religion; some not even understanding the religion that they promote well enough to answer simple questions regarding the specific religion. I wonder if the Pope approved and blessed this crusade? I have lost count of the exact number.

Talking about the pope, what happened to our own pope? I have not seen him since my return.

But these are not the Templar, Hospitaller or Teutonic knights of old who tried to make the Holy Land accessible to all. These crusaders try to promote their own religions as being superior to the rest while other have a (not so well) hidden agendas to promote their warped racial or political views, thus using religion as a vehicle to spread their own views.

Methinks they all wanted to be preachers or politicians (same thing) but probably failed the test and now seek different stages for their plays.

It reminds me of an old man that used to stand on the corner with a bible, a portable amplifier, and a guitar. He never had much of an audience as most people just walked on and the surrounding residents found him a nuisance.

I understand that they have a mission to spread the news about their God, and don't complain about that but why bombard us with their own views and agendas.

There is a time and a place for every thing and a dating site does not strike me as a pulpit. I’m sure there are thousands of religious sites where this sort of writings will be more than welcome.

I seldom read blogs with a religious content and lately that leaves me with very little to read and causes me to yearn back to some other nasty or weird characters who have disappeared over the last year. At least I used to read their blogs.


May all of you have a wonderful day.

Prayer is the link to communicating with, and to God. This is the confidence that we have knowing that, when we make our prayer request (s) known to Him according to His will, His plans, and His purpose'for our lives... He hears us, and His peace will rest upon our hearts and in our minds through Christ Jesus.

Father God, grant me Your peace and'grace to accept the things I cannot'change; Give me courage, strength, and Your wisdom to change those things I can change; Bless me with Your spiritual knowledge and understanding, and self-contentment to know the difference between THE things I can change and those things I cannot change. In THE mighty name of Jesus THE Christ, AMEN!

People need to pray always without ceasing.

Written by Peter Amsterdam Saturday, 01 November 2014

Recently I came across a familiar Bible verse, which I’ve read, heard, and even quoted hundreds of times, but when meditating on it, thinking of its practical application and the enormity of the consequences of ignoring it, I more fully realized its importance.

Matthew 6:14–15 says, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”1

There’s no wiggle room within these verses. Whether we do or don’t forgive others has a direct effect on our own relationship with God.

A bit later, the apostle Peter asked the obvious question: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who wrongs me? Up to seven times?”

“Not just seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.”2

That’s 490 times. Jesus used a pretty big number to emphasize that there isn't any point where we can feel justified to stop forgiving someone.

To further drive this home, He used some other very large numbers in the story of a king who wanted to settle his accounts with his servants or subjects:

One man owed the king ten thousand talents. A talent is 2,000 ounces (125 pounds, 57 kg), so this man owed the king 20 million ounces of what was probably either gold or silver. If it was silver, that would be equivalent to about US$ 400 million today; if it was gold, then it would be worth about US$ 25 billion. Either way, that was an enormous debt. Because the man couldn’t pay, the king ordered that he and his wife and children and all that he had be sold. The man implores the king to have patience, and out of pity, the king not only grants him a delay but pardons his debt altogether.

Sadly, the forgiven servant later finds one of his fellow servants who owes him a hundred denarii—one denarius is estimated to be worth about US$ 20 today, which means the fellow servant’s debt would be about US$ 2,000—in any case, a much smaller sum than his own debt, which he had been released from. Nonetheless, the forgiven servant has his colleague imprisoned for being behind in his repayments.

When the king hears of it, he summons the forgiven servant and says:
“You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” In anger, the master has him thrown into jail as well.

Jesus ends this story with an alarming statement: “This is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you as well, if you do not forgive your brethren.”3

Forgiving doesn't mean the other person was in the right, nor does it mean that the loss or harm caused by their actions is undone. It simply means that rather than focusing on who’s right and who’s wrong, you leave that in God’s hands, along with the repercussion of the person’s actions. You take the high road and forgive.

All of us sin, and each of us falls short of the glory of God.4 Like the unforgiving servant, we each owe a huge debt to God—a debt so large that none of us can ever repay it. Through Jesus, God forgives that debt; but He also calls us to forgive others in like manner.

Looking at it from the point of view that if we don’t forgive others when they've offended us, God won’t forgive us when we sin against Him can be disconcerting.

The good part is, we can also see it as a promise: if we forgive others, God will forgive us.5 If we show mercy, then mercy will be shown to us. If we forgive, we will be forgiven.

Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.”6

1. ESV
2. See Matthew 18:21–22.
3. See Matthew 18:23–35.
4. See Romans 3:23.
5. See Mark 11:25.
6. Colossians 3:12–14 CEV


Activated TFI

Many may ask the question, why should I pray for anyone?... Well, first of all, it is God's command that we in obedience, should pray for one another, pray for all nations of people and their leaders, pray for our own leaders in local, state, and federal governments because they have rule over us, and if any should not seek our good, God promises to take care of those leaders Himself, but this can only happen when we PRAY. God has all power in His hands to move people, places and things.

God has commended that we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, because they are His chosen people and He has decreed Jerusalem as an everlasting covenant through the seed of Abraham and Jacob whom God Himself changed Jacob's name to Israel. In obedience, we are to pray for Jerusalem, because God has promised that He will curse those who curse Israel, and bless those who bless her, and He has promised to pronounce judgement on all nations who come against Jerusalem/Israel to harm her. And it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of an angry God, because of failure to obey God's commands.

A Simple Prayer Request...
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; May those who love her prosper; May peace be within your homes, and prosperity be within your cities; Therefore, for my brothers and sisters I will say, Peace be with you O, Jerusalem, because of the house of the Lord our God, I will always seek your good. Amen!

It's a curious thing how many people fail to make use of the largely unclaimed gift that provides us with the highest "feel good" return present in God's creation: Love. The act of giving as well as receiving love, for some individuals, seems to be as effortless as taking their next breath. Although for others it is just as difficult to receive and feel loved as it is to offer it.

According to the Bible, God is love and He freely provides love (1 Jn. 4:16) However, receiving His love is our responsibility, since we must respond to His love by embracing it. The two acts together, giving and receiving, form the most notable of all of our relationships on this as well as the other side of the grave. Additionally, it is here where we find one of the most significant, as well as free, benefits for our lives: PEACE. You see, the very moment we begin our relationship with God, through His Son Jesus, we can claim the gift of peace... daily peace as well as eternal peace!

Daily peace provides you with the peace of God and with eternal peace you obtain peace with God.


Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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 (Mat. 11:28-30).


Do not be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).


Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1).



Daily peace is where you will find contentment for your everyday life. This does not mean that living a life as a follower of Christ will always be easy...God doesn't promise freedom from trouble. What He does promise is not the elimination of trails but His presence and peace to carry you through them. As humans, we all thirst for infinite fulfillment, but the problem is a finite can never satisfy and infinite thirst. Human, or finite, love cannot completely fulfill us. Each of us, regardless of what family we were or were not born into, came into this world with an internal "God-shaped" vacuum that cannot be filled apart from God. Blaise Pascal affirmed this:


What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are , though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God Himself.


You see, in a futile attempt to satisfy this unquenchable need, many find they are, as the saying goes, "looking for love in all the wrong places," as they eventually discover that worldly pleasures cannot ultimately provide us with the intimacy our hearts long for. This is because the finite things of life are a poor substitute for the infinite, for only the infinite can bring infinite fulfillment.


In other words...


AN ULTIMATE COMMITMENT TO ANYTHING LESS THAN THE ULTIMATE WILL NOT ULTIMATELY SATISFY YOU!


We learn this from perhaps the only human that ever lived who had the position and resources to test this principle: King Solomon in Ecclesiastes (see Ecc. 1-3) Solomon experienced wine, women, works, worldliness, and wealth on a level that we will never witness. After tasting the "fruits" that most would die for, Solomon was left confessing that "all is vanity!" Meaning there is no ultimate (complete or lasting happiness) in the temporal things, since God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecc. 3:11).







Continued...

Alot of people tell me i should get over my great great great great aunts uncles cousins grandparents getting raped burned alive castrated hung and beaten......well it wasnt your ancestors they were mine......someone said do you know about the Irish slaves(lol im a scholar....been in debates with _grownmen when i was a teenager).....of course i know of the Irish and other poor whites enslavement......but slavery was business ;free labor;the level of brutality that my ancestors faced was never
seen before in world history 199million dead.....some say it's racist to say all white are born into
White supremacy ....and only can be cleansed by Yeshuas blood ...or when i say Hebrews are born with a slave mentality......only can be cleansed by Yeshuas blood ....but was the Hebrew Holocaust personal or business.....let's get into Scriptures ;Genesis chapter 25v21-26......And Issac intreated the Lord for his wife because she was barren and the Lord was intreated of him,and Rebekah his wife conceived....And the children struggled (constantly fighting)within her;and she said if it be so why am i thus?and she went to inquire unto the Lord.And the Lord said unto her, two nations are in thy womb(nations means nationality .....the only time this happened in bibical history )....and two manner of people shall be seperated from thy bowels ;and the one people shall be stronger than the other people ;and the elder shall serve the younger.And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold,there were twins in her womb.And the first came out red,all over like a hairy garment;and they called his name Esau.And after that came his brother out....and his hand took hold on Esau s heel(they were still fighting.....but taking hold is very significant )and his name was called Jacob and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them......notice Esau was described indepth however there's no description of Jacob......Esau and Jacob fought for birthrights Esau thought he'd won bc he was first out the womb however it was already predetermined Jacob would get the birthrights....Jacob looked like everyone else which is why there wasn't a physical description of him .. however ;Esau didn't ;red means seeing the blood threw his skin.....they were to be separated bc if they fought this way within the womb what would they do on earth......Esau birth of the Caucasian nation Jacob birth of the Hebrew nation part2 will be next

"A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD."

I had to share this, because it gives both men and women something to think about during the dating process especially, those who seek marriage.

"There are many problems in relationships. Too much jealousy, womanizing, selfishness, selfish-ambitions, and many relationships are based on lust, instead of true love. All these ungodly things cause fighting, cussing, and sleeping around from bed to bed with other women. There is a lack of respect for the other partner, not much intimacy or romance (this does not involve sex), between couples, defrauding each others with lies, and a lack of respect or fear of God, or for the other partner, or for self.

The Scripture passage Proverbs 18:22, does not say, "He (the man) who finds a woman finds a good thing." It clearly says, "He (the man) who finds a "wife" finds a good thing." This lets us know that when a man goes in search of a suitable mate to be his wife, he should be careful to look for a woman who already has the inner qualities of being a wife. He should spend time in prayer and fasting seeking God for the woman who has these qualities that God speaks about in His Word. But the man must also have the qualities God speaks about in I Timothy Chapter 3, if he himself is to be viewed and respected as the priest of his home after marriage, and as a wise husband or a real man, when he is seeking a wife.

All women are not qualified to be a wife... And all men are not qualified to be a husband..."

Excerpts from the book "Let's Talk Man Talk"
by Rev. Dr. T. A. Hodge