Month: November 2016

Where Was God?

Where Was God?

“Where was God?’ is a question you hear when tragedy strikes. Tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters happen and God is blamed.  Abuse, rape, and murder happen and once again the question is asked. It is as if people like to use God as an escape goat for anything bad that happens and forget everything He has done. Jesus when falsely accused and put on trial He did not offer up words in His own defense and He doesn’t need me to defend Him now. Yet I am going to take a crack at answering the question.

“He was crying for us. He was being beaten for our transgressions. He was nailed to a cross paying for our sins. He was in the grave fighting death for the keys for your life.”

He will never abandon or reject you. He suffers when you suffer, and cries when you cry. He feels your pain and your loss. He is a Father who watched His own child suffer and die.

There was a song by John Michael Montgomery that when I first hear it many years ago I had to pull off the freeway because it cause me to cry so hard I could not see. It is about a little girl and if you listen to it you will hear how even during a tragic event Jesus was with her.

We live in a fallen world filled with sin and violence but we are not alone God is with us. Even if He has to stand outside your door, and wait for you, He is there. He will always be there, in both good times, and bad.

Bible verses related to I Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance

 

Deuteronomy 31:8 – And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5 – [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Joshua 1:9 – Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.

1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Hebrews 13:5-6 – [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.   (Read More…)

Matthew 28:20 – Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:6 – So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   (Read More…)

Isaiah 41:10-13 – Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.   (Read More…)

Psalms 55:22 – Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Joshua 1:5 – There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 Chronicles 28:20 – And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Hebrews 4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-I-Will-Never-Leave-You-Nor-Forsake-You/

The Greatest Of These

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

This I Pray

     From beginning to end the Bible is about the love of God. God even showed Cain love after he killed his brother Abel. God was merciful to him by putting a mark on him to keep others from killing Cain. Jacob deceives his father and steals his brothers blessing, and God gives him a new name and he becomes Israel. Saul has Christians killed and on the road to Damascus he is blinded by God, and when God returns his sight he becomes Paul.

In the commandments God forbids adultery and murder but David has an affair with Bathsheba. When he learns that she is pregnant with his child he tries to cover up their affair. When he fails, he sends her husband out to be killed in battle. Does God give up on him or turn David away? No, He doesn’t. David didn’t have an easy life, the baby died and the problems he had with children covered things like one son rapes his daughter. Another son wants him dead, but God never stopped loving him.

The greatest story of the love of God is found in Jesus. His own Son is sent to pay the price for the sin of every person that will ever live. Jesus knew what He was facing when He came to redeem man. He was rejected, mocked, people wanted to stone Him, He was spit on, beaten, and then crucified. He did all this even though we are hateful, lying, manipulative, self seeking, cheating, thieves, idolaters, adulterers, fornicators and murderers to name a few of the things man is without Jesus. Yet no matter how bad we are He still loves us, and He has already forgiven us we just need to receive Him and His forgiveness.

John 3:16 (NKJV)   For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Share your favorite stories in the Bible of God’s love and mercy.

HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Thoughtful post

Pastor Bob Mink

Taking my cue from a pretty good TV commercial, the past few days I have been singing “Home for the Holidays” and then adding “but Jan and I will be homeless for the holidays.” I was trying to be funny because Jan and I have sold our house and are moving to Texas, but will not occupy our new home until March. We will hardly be homeless, however, as we will be with our daughter and two grandsons in their home for Christmas, New Years, and beyond.

A couple of days later it occurred to me that what I had been saying wasn’t funny. Jan and I will not be homeless, but there are many who are homeless and will be for the holidays. And I’m quite sure they would not think what I was singing and saying was humorous.

The next day I was having lunch with several friends…

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Looking for Love

Looking For Love

We all want to find love. Fairy tales and romance novels fill our heads with fictitious stories of unrealistic love. Harlequin novels and other romance companies have profited off of women who seek love and romance. I think of the song, ’Looking for love in all the wrong places’, and think how true this title is.

Both men and women want to be loved. We try over and over again to find love and some do, but too many of us do not. Failed relationships and marriages ending in divorce are proof that the love we say we find is not lasting or true. We confuse lust with love, and sex which was designed by God for husband and wives has long since been forgotten. I would say in this day in age it would be rare to find a couple who are getting married to both be virgins if either are.

Is it because we are not worthy of being loved? It is more likely that because of our own self worth that we accept what we believe is love or settle for less than true love because we don’t want to grow old alone, or feel obligated to marry. We try to fill the emptiness inside of ourselves with people, possessions, or work and titles, to name just a few things. Yet we fail in finding true love because we are in fact looking for love in all the wrong places.For the only true love is found in Jesus. He loves us perfectly, for He loves us more than His own life.

John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

A love that is patient and kind. Merciful and forgiving. It holds no grudge or record of your wrongs.  1 Corinthians 13 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible because even though I have not achieved this kind of love I know it is real and I strive to love like this more and more each day. Loving without expectation or demands. I am perfectly loved not because I am perfect but because that He is perfect in all things.Look to the One who gave His life for you, as you are. Who has loved you and will always love you. He never fails you, and will never lie to you or cheat on you. He will never abandon you.His love give you life. Passion and lust fade and die but His True Love is eternal.

Love does not seek its own 1 Corinthians 13:5 Lesson 6

1 Corinthians 13: 5(NKJV) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)  or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

 

Seeking, insisting, or demanding your own way is not love. Even God who created us does not demand. He has given us commands, instructions, and laws, but gives us free will to choose what we will and will not do. The results of our choices and how they impact our lives and the lives we touch are our own. When Adam and Eve did the one thing they were asked not to do. God did not stop them but the result of their action was that they had to leave Eden. God did not make them eat the fruit but told them not to. Then God told them that a Savior would be born through a woman to redeem man and defeat the enemy. Even when His command was broken He still makes a way to forgive and to love us who do not deserve His love or mercy.

He knew we would continue to sin yet He loves us so completely He paid the price for our actions in sending His Son Jesus to pay the debt of our sins to redeem us. Yet if someone were to wrongs you, do you demand they make payment or make repairs? I cannot answer for you but I know I have.

If I am only out to do things that are for my gain alone and do not care if I hurt anyone or cause any damage as long as I get what I want I am being selfish and self seeking.

Discussion Questions

  1. What does it mean to you to be self seeking?

 

  1. What do you think it means to insist on your own way and are there times when it is okay to do so?

 

  1. Are you demanding about anything?

 

When we think of love we think about feelings and what we get if we want to be honest it is about our wants, desires, and needs. Man is selfish by nature. Yet this is not an excuse. God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not ours. When we enter into a relationship with Jesus we receive His love and forgiveness. His love transforms us from what we were to His image, but this transformation does not take place overnight. If you are an artist, who paints, sculpts, or carves, you know the image does not appear like magic. You form; you chisel, and cut away. You stroke paint onto a canvas. It may take you days, weeks, or months. You took one thing and transformed a blank canvas, a block of, stone, or a lump of clay and created a piece of art for you and others to enjoy, and appreciate. Now if you force any of your process what usually happens? It doesn’t turn out the way you wanted and may even be broken beyond repair. Demanding or insisting with force can do great damage.

So I pray to become less demanding and more pleasing to our Lord. Seeking to serve the needs of others, knowing He provides for all of my needs.

 

Definitions

self-seek·ing  (sÄ•lf′sē′kÄ­ng)  adj.1. Pursuing only one’s own ends or interests.

  1. Exhibiting concern only with promoting one’s own ends orinterests: self-seeking maneuvers.

n.Determined pursuit of one’s own ends or interests.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

  1. the act oraninstance of seeking one’s own profit or interest, esp exclusively

adj. having or showing an exclusive preoccupation with one’s own profit or interest: a self-seeking attitude.

ˌCollins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers

self-seeking  adjective selfish, self-interested, mercenary, calculating, opportunistic, self-serving, acquisitive, on the make(slang), careerist, gold-digging, fortune-hunting, looking out for number one (informal), out for what you can getPoliticians are untrustworthy self-seeking creatures.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

self-seeking  adjective Concerned only with oneself:

egocentric, egoistic, egoistical, egomaniacal, egotistic, egotistical, self-absorbed, self-centered, self-involved, selfish, self-serving.

Idiom: wrapped up in oneself.

 

in·sist   (ĭn-sĭst′) v. in·sist·ed, in·sist·ing, in·sists

v.intr. To be resolute or firm in a demand or course: I insist on paying my share of the expenses.

v.tr.To assert or demand (something) firmly or persistently: We insist that you stay for dinner.

Vb  1. to make a determined demand (for): he insisted that his rights be respected; he insisted on his rights.  2. to express a convinced belief (in) or assertion (of): he insisted that she was mad; he insisted on her madness.

Verb  1. persist, press (someone), be firm, stand firm, stand your ground, lay down the law, put your foot down(informal), not take no for an  answer, brook no refusal, take or make a stand I didn’t want to join in, but heinsisted.

  1. demand, order, urge, require, command, dictate, entreatI insisted that the fault be repaired.
  2. assert, state, maintain, hold, claim, declare, repeat, vow, swear, contend, affirm, reiterate, profess, avow,aver, asseverateHe insisted that he was acting out of compassion.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

 

Demand 1. To ask for urgently or peremptorily: demand an investigation into the murder; demanding that he leave immediately; demanded to speak to the manager.

  1. To claim as just or due: demand repayment of a loan.
  2. To ask to be informed of: demanded an explanation for the interruption.
  3. To require as useful, just, proper, or necessary; call for: a gem that demands a fine setting.
  4. Law
  5. To lay legal claim to; claim formally.
  6. To ask that (something) be done in accordance with a legal requirement. verb 1. request, ask (for), order, expect, claim, seek, call for, insist on, exact, appeal for, solicit She demanded an immediate apology.
  7. challenge, ask, question, inquire ‘What do you expect me to do about it?’ she demanded. 3. require, take, want, need, involve, call for, entail, necessitate, cry out for The task demands much patience and hard work. require give, provide, produce, supply, grant, contribute, yield, come up with, furnish

noun

  1. request, order, charge, bidding He grew ever more fierce in his demands.
  2. need, want, call, market, claim, requirement, necessity The demand for coal is down.

in demand sought after, needed, popular, favoured, requested, in favour, fashionable, well-liked, in vogue, like gold dust He was much in demand as a lecturer.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Prejudiced CHRISTIAN singles

Seeking-GOD:Father's Service, Son's work, Spirit's gift

sacred-standards-large

Remaining single is always more challenging than being in so called “In a Relationship” and being married every where in the world when it comes to prejudices.

In USA and other western nation, such single person are in risk of being prejudiced by society, institutions and grown ups as homosexuals, lesbians, transsexual and whore-monger.

GOD knows what people think of devoted Christian singles.

Here in Nepal, remaining single has prejudicial problems.

Single’s challenges in Church 

The churches in Nepal think singles are inappropriate for ministries especially pastor, missionary and evangelism. The one who does not have ability to start family is unworthy to serve church ministries.

Single man gets into constant trouble with single girls. The young single girls are seeking for a possible relationship to result in marriage and family start up. The youth willing to discard  interest of young beauties worsen spiritual fellowship.

The leaders try to work…

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