Why should a person be aware that God is serious about sin? Not nearly enough thought is given to what sin actually does to a person. 1. Sin separates us from God. 2. Sin keeps us from growing closer to God. 3. Sin keeps us from fellow-shipping with God; distrusting and/or not believing Him.
4. Sin makes our thoughts and hearts vulnerable to the Adversary.
Sin and the consequences we suffer from sin are real.
We ought to be aware of what we're choosing to do to ourselves by catering to sin. Knowing the truth can get the matter of sin settled once and for all.
The flesh is weak, causing a person to sin, but the Spirit is strong.
The flesh can be strengthened through the Holy Spirit.
Our heavenly Father already provided for us the Way, the Truth, and the Light to
get from under the dark, spiraling downward suction of enticing sin. Sure, sin may look and feel good for a moment, but the penalty of sin is more lasting.
God desires us to enjoy life and to be happy and safe. He knows there's danger about. He wants to protect us from what's harmful and dangerous as a loving Father protects those He loves from what's dangerous and harmful to us.
However, He won't make you do anything against your will.
It's your choice and decision to weigh the good vs the bad, the truth vs the lie, life vs death for yourself.
Then, the consequences are yours as well depending upon your decision.
I recently saw a video of a little boy dancing alongside his Big Wheel.
Naturally, I was compelled to investigate and find more of this
thing called, Ghost-ride the Whip.
There's even a documentary movie about 'ghost-riding' which was brought
about by the Hyphe movement in the San Francisco Bay area.
This 2007 video, Mista Fab tells you how to ghost-ride and feel like a star.
Here, two dudes show their ghost-ride moves in a parking lot.
Still dangerous but at least no oncoming traffic.
Compared to some other extreme activities, ghost-riding
the whip is performed on land (rather than above ground or under water)
but it does involve being near an uncontrolled, moving vehicle.
Extreme activities are exciting and thrilling because there's a bit
of danger involved.
Ghost-riding the whip isn't an activity I'm going to engage in.
I enjoy dancing to music without any associated danger.
But to those who like the thrill of dancing outside your ride
while it's moving, carry on, and I hope you have no ill regrets
in doing so.
I can only imagine gazing up and being mesmerized by something so spectacularly orchestrated in the sky. One day I'd like to enjoy the pleasure of witnessing an aurora borealis marvel with my own eyes.
Here, 8 photographers share their best shots of northern lights over Finland.
The southern lights are called aurora australis. and they're equally spectacular!
Wondrous, dazzling swirling colors in the northern and southern night sky are majestically impressive, but what I really want to share is written by another author, Kathy Manis Findley.
One of her blog posts she's written about God being found in many ways.
This is absolutely true and an encounter with God can change your life-it did mine.
When God is found, that makes the place you met God holy.
Take a few minutes to read her post here.
Seriously, I don't believe there's a better name for a 'majestic magnificent display in the sky than 'The Hem of His Garment.'
One day I'd like to enjoy the pleasure of witnessing the sights and sounds of an aurora borealis marvel with my own eyes. It will be holy ground for me I don't think I could ever forget.
I truly believe God's touch is everywhere because His splendorous creation is everywhere! Open your eyes!
Same-sex marriage is an open-ended, continual debate. The consensus on this debate leans heavily on personal interpretation of marriage. Some strongly believe a person should be free to marry a person of their same gender.
The condition of your heart is evident in your choices
This has also brought up debates on the subjects of marriage, who to love, family, and adoption issues because once the deception door was opened, any and everything becomes debatable, questionable and alterable rather than trusting the Creator who designed and created it. Once we alter the original design, the ramifications begin to take an altered cause and effect course. Things get messy, complicated and uneasy- which was not the intended design. Remember, what deceived Eve in the perfect Garden is still very much at work and we can see the ramifications of that deception are sill in play today.
The debate on marriage -
God created marriage for the purpose of a man and a woman uniting for the purpose of procreating within a loving relationship. Marriage is also meant to mimic the loving-for-life relationship God desires to have with each of us. And the command to go forth and multiply, which is to procreate.
It's not biologically possible for two men or two women to procreate.
The debate on who to love-
Yes, we are to love our neighbor, and even our enemy. Love is very multi-faceted and wide ranging. Perhaps getting the true grasp of the depth of genuine love is something we ought to try to understand more in depth. True, genuine love is grand between two people who want to share their lives together as one. The heart has the capacity for loving strongly and deeply but there are different kinds of loves we can have for different people in our lives. Certainly it's not feasible to marry every person we love and care for. The special bonding love between a husband and wife is just one kind of love. The sacred union of marriage is reserved for a one man and one woman, united as one unit in the sight of God.
The debate on the definition of family-
In a family, the father ( male) and the mother (female) unite to have children who are the created equally of the union of both. Together they share in raising their off-spring is the designed intention of a traditional family. When we alter the traditional family in any way, the children and the family are going to lack something vital and problems are definitely going to become more and more evident with each generation of children.
Do the professionals or politicians know what's better than the Creator of love, marriage, family, and children?
The debate on sin-
This debate is also altered with personal interpretation on the definition of sin.
Altering God's Word to fit a person's desire to continue sinning as he wishes is very personal.
The first couple believed a BIG lie and THAT LIE is still perpetuated because the lie satisfies the desire to satisfy the desires of the flesh which feel good and perpetrate evil rather than obey God.
Fulfilling the desires of the flesh make us feel good. And who doesn't want to feel good? But there is much more to us that we don't see which is more important.
When we do what is in direct opposition to God's Word for us, there is a price we are going to ultimately suffer. God is very patiently waiting for us to get enough of suffering at our own expense and wake up and see our mistakes. We can read of those who went against His Word and the consequences they suffered from doing so. A child is warned to not play in the road so they won't get hurt. But if that child's heart is set on playing in the road, they place them self directly in line to be harmed.
Man is too proud to stay within the boundaries set for his safety and good.
because
he'd rather make his rules he thinks are better than God's protection and goodness,
and
he'd rather stubbornly continue sinning no matter the cost he's going to endure.
The remodeling of family and marriage by Man changes hearts and souls.
This agenda is not pleasing to God and it's dangerous for everyone.
The Enemy is pleased when we sin
Sin is hurting and damaging to the sinner, not God.
God knows best what's best for you. Disobedient against God sets into motion things not ideally best to you in the long run. God is loving and patient and won't violate your will, but His grace and mercy are at work, placing situations and people in your life for you to come around to His wonderful and perfect design for you.
Men and women may interpret that same-sex marriage is fine. However, same-sex marriage is not in accordance with the Word of God, no matter how many professionals deem it to be okay or how many judges grant legality to same-sex marriage.
Same sex marriage is yet another deception and diversion the Master
Deceiver is using to counterfeit God's design for marriage and family.
The Truth was given for our benefit but the Truth keeps being ignored and shanghaied for something counter to the Truth. Sin blinds the eyes & hardens the heart to a path destined to unpleasantness. Sin is disobedience against God.
A sinful lifestyle is willful defiance against God.
Because of His love, He allows each person their choice and power to choose their destination.
One must choose wisely because there is no way whatsoever anyone can debate God on His Word which prevails upon every matter of His creation.
I think I speak for most when I say the subject of death isn't a normal discussion topic.
However, if you or someone close to you are facing a serious, challenging health condition
with a grim prognosis, what does a person think or do?
Would one obsess about death or focus on living to make the most of every day and moment of life?
These are tough questions when you know your days are short numbered.
It's not easy simultaneously focusing your thoughts on dying and living.
Nor is it easy dwelling on the subject of death when you're enjoying health.
I've not been in the shoes of anyone lingering on thoughts of ending one's life.
But, I believe a person can act on ending their life without planning the act.
A sudden change of events can cause a person to taking immediate and drastic actions to end their life without considering the long-term effects on the one's they abruptly leave. As I've already mentioned, I do not have the thought processes of a person in a desperate situation or dilemma.
My first experience of knowing about a person ending their life really got my attention and made me ponder deeply about this. I was a teenager when I heard the news that the woman who lived next door had killed herself. I'm certain her husband and daughter were shocked and devastated. What could have happened to bring her to want or need to do such a thing?
Whenever I hear of someone committing suicide, I still have the same questions.
Much goes on on the inside of a person that is not immediately revealed.
Many things will never be revealed and many questions will go unanswered.
Fame and financial prosperity can't shield anyone from all the problems/ills/challenges one may encounter.
No one wants so suffer from a disorder of any sort-it can be devastating and life changing.
We were all shocked when we heard the news that Robin Williams ended his life.
Rick Genest (Zombie Boy)-body-tattooed model
Rick was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 15. From reading about him he became obsessed with macabre. Insect and skeletal tattoos covered nearly his entire body, including his skull and face. Could looking at his reflection in the mirror have had an effect on his self-image and mindset?
Could the ill effects of having had a brain tumor still affected Rick. I couldn't find any definite reason or reasons why he committed suicide when he was in his 20's. Click here to see his tattoos covered by a concealer.
We aren't privy to everything about a person-their heart, their soul, nor their motives to gain insight why they chose to end their lives.
Neither riches or fame are proven to insulate a person from whatever may cause thoughts to end one's life.
Thoughts playing in one's mind can be so convincing and lead one into taking action steps within moments.
Please, please, please immediately seek professional help (call 911) if you ever have thoughts of ending your life. You are needed and your life is precious and very valuable.
Each of us should be reminded of this from time to time.
Each and every life is very valuable, needed and worth living to the fullest.
There are many other examples to write on this controversial and complex subject, but I'm left pondering situations and causes to why some might want to end their life-
Chronic, debilitating pain
Depression
Poverty
Divorce
Physical disfigurement
Feeling unloved or abandoned
Incarceration for life
Public humiliation
Shame
Guilt
Loss of a dear, loved one
Hopeless
No purpose or fulfilling goal to pursue
Many have suffered but were able to recover from the above heart-jerking agony to enjoy fulfilling lives once again or for the first time.
When you can't get from under the heaviness that's stealing your joy, seek help so you can start on the journey toward better days.
One thing for sure.
Our Lord and Savior took the heavy load of a world of sin upon His shoulders.
He took it all and He suffered horribly, publicly, and bled profusely.
He did not deserve any of the suffering or torture that he endured.
Jesus suffered while taking the suffering He did not deserve. He did it for you and me.
He suffered so any suffering we endure in this life will one day end, and we will experience an eternity of glory beyond our most extreme imagination anyone could ever imagine.
For believers, the best is yet to come.
I believe suffering has it's place.
In suffering we get a taste of what Jesus went through for us.
Our hope is this suffering is temporary, because one day we'll join Him in glory.
Our life here is just a vapor. Eternity is forever.
With that in mind, that's why we are to share the good news with everyone.
Whatever is afflicting your body and/or mind will not continue forever.
Yes, years ago when I was going though a time when I could not see how I was going to survive, I had a momentary thought of ending it all, but a small voice told me, "Hang on, just hang on. Jesus loves you unconditionally and forever."
Suffering isn't what anyone pines to experience.
But the Lord can use even suffering for a better tomorrow for you and I.
There is hope, a future and life in and through Jesus, The VICTOR over spiritual death.
There is life everlasting through Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah.
There may be suffering for a while, but it can't compare to the great glory that awaits those who trust in the Lord.
Action steps- -Believe Jesus is the Son of God. -Ask Him (Jesus) to save you from the penalty of your sins. -Invite Him into your heart and your life. -Thank and praise Him for having bore the penalty of your sins, thus saving you from spiritual death. -Repent of your sins. -Make it your passion to live a life pleasing to Him. - Meet with other believers, read and mediate upon the Word to grow spiritually in the Lord and deepen your relationship with the Lord. Jesus is to be trusted and believed. Believers aren't perfect but their sins are forgiven and they are permanently secure in the Lord. So, welcome into the family of God as one of His precious adopted children, and heir to His Kingdom. Your quickened spirit shall never die because it is alive with the Son of God.
The tissues of your body are held together by a cross-shaped protein.
That is just like something God would design.
After learning about laminin, I can see this as one more thing pointing to what Christ accomplished on the cross. The cross symbolizes we have hope because our Lord bore the penalty of our sins in full view on the Cross of Calvary for us. Because of what He did, all things are held together by Him, for Him and through Him. This is even symbolized inside the molecules of our bodies! How awesome is that!
David Cassidy was a young, attractive, musician and singer who acted on the The Partridge Family show. I thought it was a popular and entertaining show.
David Cassidy was also on the cover of Teen Magazine multiple times.
I remember this because I bought and read Teen Magazine.
I was a teenage in the 70's when America was settling into integrating schools.
The Vietnam War was behind us and the Cold War was cooling down.
The news and media programs fed us segments of vivid, colorful images for our hungry eyes to feast upon space exploration images. We were kept in-the-know on professional athletes on the field, courts, tracks and raceways. We saw Walt Disney hosting his wonderful world. Journalists, photographers and reporters, producers and directors gave us people and animals of foreign lands to view in our living rooms in technicolor. Movies for television and the big screen were alluring, interesting and entertaining, from The Wizard of Oz to Gone with the Wind and the Sound of Music. And speaking of music, Jazz, New Age, Hard Rock, Easy Listening- they were all vibrating ear drums in stereo from live stages, radio stations, or sound systems that spun records or tapes.
Television shows were basically wholesome in that the entire family could watch television together and not hear any profanity, see cleavage, or unmarried people in bed together. The Brady Bunch, The Sonny and Cher Show, The Carole Brunette Show, Bonanza, Gun Smoke, The Green Hornet, Dragnet, Adam-12, and Star Trek were shows I liked.
I was shocked when I heard David Cassidy had passed on November 21, 2017. He was 67.
In reading of his passing, his daughter, Kate, shared his final words.
I have to say I am guilty of wasting too much precious time on frivolous nothingness.
I have to say I am guilty of wasting many precious moments, hours, months, years on stuff that are NOT ever going to positively lead to anything positive or worthwhile.
Time not spent frivolously is a very sad, grieving loss to me.
I'd rather spend precious time involved in promoting a positive life change for the better. And time spent promoting a spiritual change of my heart is the best use of time because it's effects are not just temporary, they're eternal.
I've wasted and lost too much time on temporary, unimportant stuff. I can relate and agree with David Cassidy's last words.
I don't want to not come to my last moments and be regretful of 'so much lost time.'
I want to be passionately focused on not mounting up much more lost hours, weeks, months and years than necessary.
How about you?
