Life~

Things haven't exactly been fun around here lately.
Hubby has Bronchitis and coughs so much his ribs ache. I have a bulging disk and pinched nerves that really hurt 24/7. It's ridiculously hot and the combination of these facts make for some grumpy folks!
There are still great things though. Mom in law has been very helpful, the kids are wonderful and we have lots of time (and excuses) to sit around together watching movies and playing Strawberry Shortcake 'Memory'.
I love my family ~

Judge Not, Another Abused Scripture

There are many abused verses of scripture. Some are simply misused due to the week nature of the English language, but The most common reason to abuse a verse is the refusal to 'rightly divide the word of Truth' based on personal preference or rejection of God's nature of holiness.
Here is a verse that the modern American christian loves to throw around every time the topic of sin comes up.:
Matthew 7
1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite (hypokrites:an actor,pretender), first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
When read carefully and literally this verse is obviously not telling us that a Christian should not rebuke sin. It is telling us to make sure that we are not pointing out a sin in another person while we secretly embrace worse sin in ourselves. First reject that sin in your own life and then you have the right to tell others that they need to reject it as well.
If this is not clear enough to us let us look at some other verses on the topic of judging.
1 John 4:1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Test:dokimazo. to examine, prove, scrutinize,deem worthy

John5:30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Judge: krino, to separate, put asunder, choose,to be of opinion..
1 Cor.6:do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
(Amos 5:14-15)"Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph."
(Psa. 37:30)"The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment."
"Our generation is well described in Isaiah 59:8: "The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace." People have refused to judge, so there is no peace."
If we are not supposed to be able to look at a person and see whether or not they are of God this verse would not exist. :
1 John 2:3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
Gal. 5:16 But I say,walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
In summary:
Don't be a pretender. If you are committing adultery, don't tell your friend not to watch porn, until you repent/turn from your sin!
Don't let Satan render you a useless christian by making you afraid to teach repentance! Don't allow condemnation to keep you from pursuing holiness; GOD is the standard we follow, love and preach,that is not minimized by human weakness.

Jesus Allowed Sinners To Eat With Him

MARK 2:13-17 "Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. "Follow me,"Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
This is one of the most abused verses in scripture. Time and time again Christian and non-Christian alike have used this verse to excuse socializing/participating with sinners, in a sin filled environment,simply for the sake of socializing. What does this verse actually say?
As Jesus walked along, teaching the lost, they followed HIM. They wanted to hear His teaching! They were seeking truth. When it came time to eat He went into a seekers home and continued to share with the people. When he answered the Pharisees questions, He said that it was because they were sick and needed a doctor. He was there to teach them that they needed change, they needed healing.
Tell me, when you go into that bar, are you there with the mind set that those around you are sick? Are you there to reach them for Christ? Are you telling them that repentance is the first step to 'following' Christ; to healing? Are you showing them the way out?
Or are you there to join in the sickness? Are you giving the impression that Christianity is just a 'get out of jail free card' that has nothing to do with needing healed from the sickness of sin? Do you think Jesus would go into the bar, ask for a cold one and then watch the game all night, then get up and leave? Can you seriously call that 'witnessing'? Of course not, that would be ridiculous!
Yes, Jesus ate with the sinners. There is no place that He wouldn't reach for one who is reaching back.

John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me"

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4).


"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,' says the Lord. 'And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,' Says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
“Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.” (1 Timothy 5:20)
“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it… Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.” (Titus 1:9, 13)

'The Difference between Holiness and Legalism" by TRUTH ABLAZE, link follows

This is a beautifully written, simple statement of a truth often rejected.~Tammy~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord

The above passage underscores the absolute importance of holiness. We are told that without it-we have no hope of one day spending eternity with the Lord. Sadly, many in today's churches (and pulpits) have come to scorn the word holiness as if it were a profane term. Isaiah pronounced a "woe" on those who would "call evil good, and good evil" (Isa 5:20). Those who strive and preach a message of holiness are often dubbed with derogatory terms such as "holy-roller", "holier-than-thou", or the favorite of "legalist." Now granted there are some who take the holiness message to an illogical extreme and who make their own pet doctrines. That's not the type of holiness that I'm trying to defend in this article. I am however, standing in defence of the biblical call (actually a mandate) for holiness!

In writing an article like this, it's only fair to show both sides of the coin. Let me first start by refuting those who attempt to proselyte others into their own little group or faction and calling it holiness. People often refer to me as a holiness preacher. To me, I find this to be a compliment. I take no offence at that charge. However, I do not want to be lumped with those who are merely relying on a private interpretation of holiness or elevated personal convictions as their basis for holiness. We all know those who rail against their pet peaves. Some preachers forbid (at least from the pulpit) their fellow church members from watching television, wearing cosmetics, or attending any form of entertainment. Now I do understand where they're coming from. Most who rail against these things do it out of a pure motivation. We know that in I John we are instructed to "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.." To that extent I sympathize with them because I adopt the motto "better safe than sorry." A conservative approach to biblical application is always safer than a liberal one. The problem comes in when people equate personal conviction with holy scripture. Jesus warned the Pharisees about such a practice. Sometimes we can do something for so long that, if we're not careful, we'll begin to believe it's scriptural whether it is or not. Jesus told that group that because of their traditions they had made the word of God of "none effect." The tradtions of men have the ability to make the word of God of no effect. Often it is the result of personal convictions of godly men and women. Because these godly men and women practiced certain disciplines, the temptation is to believe they are for everyone. God deals with us on an individual basis. This is a personal walk. The motto of Christianity is one of relationship rather than religion.

Having said that-now let me address what the true definition of legalism is. Legalism is most truly defined (though not exhaustively) as an attempt at salvation by the keeping of law (primarily the Mosaic law). There are certain issues which fall under the umbrella of personal conviction. I think Romans chapter 14 is a classic example which deals with observance of certain holidays or feasts, and the eating or abstinence from certain foods/meats. These are what I would call non-essentials of the faith. They are not salvation issues. If someone feels like they should abstain from certain foods or observe certain days-then by all means they should. The scriptures declare "let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." The problem comes when we demand strict adherence from others to something the bible doesn't demand of them. In the food example, Paul told Timothy (I Tim 4) that every food is good and nothing to be refused....it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. However we are warned in Romans 14 not to go against our conscience in these matters. Paul says "whatsoever is not of faith is sin"-the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats. (Romans 14:23 paraphrased).

There are however issues that are essential and are not matters of personal conviction. That's where we get into trouble. Some of us like to make "gray areas" of scripture, where they are not gray at all-but clearly defined. Paul often made statements like these, and they have caused confusion for many in theological circles. Let's take a look at some of them:

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

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

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith

I'm going to stop there, but there are more verses that echo that same theme. Because we have these verses which champion the doctrine of justification by faith, some use them in a manner that Paul never intended. When Paul penned these words by the Holy Spirit, clearly the backdrop or context was that of the Mosaic Law. Keep in mind also that when we talk about the Mosaic law, we're not just talking about the 10 commandments, but all 613 of them. A pretty tall order indeed. We must also understand that the target audience of these verses, is a group of people who were struggling with the transition from law to grace. Many who had been converted to Christianity from Judaism were having a hard time breaking free from what they had always known. Both the Jews in Rome and among the churches of Galatia had strong sects who insisted that newly born-again Christians be circumsized. The heart of the gospel message of grace was at stake, and so therefore Paul wanted them to know there was no keeping of the law (circumcision was the pivotal issue) that would bring about salvation. No matter how good we try to be or how many of the laws we strive to keep-we would still fall short. Remember James says if we offend in just one point, we are guilty of breaking the whole law. Thank God for grace!

Some erroneously taught that grace was a license to sin in Paul's day, and there are groups within Christendom that do the same thing today. The error comes because we think in linear/mutually-exclusive terms sometimes. The conclusion that some draw is that since we are free from the Mosaic law we are therefore free to do anything we want. Nothing could be further from the truth. When the bible speaks of the freedom that we have in Christ, it isn't speaking about anti-nomial, lascivious freedom, but rather freedom to serve God. We abandoned the bondage and slavery of sin, so that we could be servants of Jesus Christ. Remember the word of God declares "you have been bought with a price...you are not your own." So this newfound freedom in Christ is not a freedom to follow sinful desires, but a freedom to love God and to love our brethren...and in so doing-we fulfill the law. What a beautiful picture. Because of the temptation to throw all self control out the window with the advent of the age of grace, these verses are in the bible to stop the tide of antinomialism.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

I Peter 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

So we see that freedom from the law is not freedom from holiness. There are no good works that we can do that will merit salvation for ourselves. Neither acts of charity, voluntary service, or self-denial are good enough to gain entrance into heaven. We must come by the blood of Christ. While it is true there is nothing we can do to earn salvation-it is equally true that there are things we can do to exclude ourselves from the kingdom of God. I know some people don't like this concept because it doesn't appeal to the flesh, but let's examine and see what saith the scriptures. If we're going to be judged by the word of God, then we need to know what it says. In the gospel of John we read that if everything was recorded that Jesus did, the world would not be able to contain the writings. With that in mind, I believe that everything in the canon of scripture is in there for a reason. We must always keep in mind the context and rightly divide the word of truth, but it is in there for a reason. Let's look at a few such passages (which by the way are written to the various churches ).

I Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience
So here we have a list of various sins that will absolutely bar a person from entering the kingdom of God. It's interesting that there are no free passes listed above. We don't read clauses like "unless this person is a Christian" because it just isn't there. No matter what a person professes to be or to know about God, if they are manifesting the sins above, they are outside of the kingdom of God. It's interesting to note the tone in which Paul penned these words. He made statements like "do you not know" "I have told you in time past", "let no man deceive you with vain words." I believe it is no different today. There are still wolves in sheeps clothing, devils posing as angels of light who proclaim an ear-tickling message for those with itching ears. Any offer of salvation void of holiness and repentance is no salvation at all. It is merely a cheap grace message which will not save.

The teaching that a person (i.e. a professing Christian) could be participating in these acts and yet still claim to be saved is alive and well. It is a blatant false teaching. Am I saying that it's impossible for a Christian to do any of those things? Absolutely not! There has no temptation taken us, but such as is common to man. At a moment of weakness we must always realize "let him that thinketh he stand-take heed lest he fall." But, we must not give in to that lifestyle. What should we do? It's simple....REPENT and get back where you need to be. Jesus told the church at Ephesus "repent and do the first works." Go back to where you failed and start again, asking God for His forgiveness and grace. He told us if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have no sin or that we have not sinned we are lying and deceiving ourselves. But to use grace as a license to excuse ourselves from holiness is a grave error. Every time someone gets a glimpse of the throne of God in the scriptures, we are met with these powerful words "Holy, Holy, Holy" and the message hasn't changed. God is holy, and he demands nothing less from His children.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish

I Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy

II Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still

Again, this is not a command to follow man's ideas about holiness, but the standards that God has outlined in His Word. Some say that legalism is the most dangerous weapon of the devil in the church today. I would argue exactly the opposite. I see very few people who are seeking to be justified by the law of Moses, but a huge group of people who are attempting to enter the strait and narrow way but somehow bypass the highway of holiness. Let God be true, and let every man be a liar if need be. What does the Word say? Let's look at it again and you decide for yourself.

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord
God bless you as you study His Word!
http://www.truthablaze.com/legal.html

WAKE UP CHURCH!! You cannot 'love' Jesus, who is "the Word made flesh" and hate the holy standards that He requires!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not )inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; )neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were (H)sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Things I've learned ~

Because life truly is short~
Don't hide all the special handmade things away so they won't get messed up. You will rarely see and enjoy them...if ever. Find a place to display them and share the memories with your children on a regular basis, THAT is what makes those things special- the memories.
Don't save the good dishes for two or three 'special' holidays. Every day that you can sit down with your whole family, all alive and well, is a special day! They are just dishes, the family is what's good.
You can't have too many pictures of a loved one once they are gone. Take care of your photos and make notes for your family so that WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER AROUND TO TELL THEM ABOUT A PHOTO THEY STILL KNOW WHO IT WAS AND WHY YOU KEPT IT.
When they grow up Your kids will probably make you feel like you are making them feel today, will it be special? Ignored? Wanted? Burdensome? Think about it...
Every day that you wait for your 'life' to start is another day of your life that you've missed. Every moment of every day constitutes your life so don't waste it.

Galatians 5:13-15

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."

Pro 23:27 ~ A Warning

For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman [is] a narrow pit.
Whore:zanah Commit fornication, to commit adultery, to cause to commit adultery.
Strange woman: opposite to ones own wife; especially with regard to illicit intercourse; hence an adulteress.

Dreams

I had a dream about my sister last night. I miss her~

I loved this article~

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/articles/general-view/archive/2011/june/15/functioning-community/

Happy 4TH Of July

"For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." - 2 Corinthians 3:17 ( Remember, the opposite is also true~)

Some wonderful art that I found~

GORGEOUS Horses, FABULOUS artist!

Romans 12:18-19

"If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord."
Unfortunately it is not possible to make others choose peace. When you truly desire peace with another and they would rather dwell in anger,denial and blame there is nothing left but prayer and wishing. Also unfortunate is that knowing that you have tried to make peace and been rejected does not make you feel more peaceful about the situation. The people that have the most power to hurt you are the ones that own a piece of your heart.

All In A Day

I asked Noah what that was and he answered "It's a rock!"

1 Peter 3:9 ~ Another hard one~

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

Poll results

So I asked the question on facebook 'if you know a close relative or friend is with a cheater do you tell them?" The answers have been unanimously YES, ABSOLUTELY!
Here's a tougher one: If the cheated is actually a cheater themselves and is only with the cheater by cheating, do you still tell him or just let him reap what he's sown?" I said 'tell' hubby says let 'em have it their way.
I guess for some people life is like a McDonald's...(fast, cheap and with plenty of heartburn and regret later.)

Hello July