Category: Question

Reality (Fact or Fiction)

What is reality? Is it real? To be honest with you AI am not so sure. Reality T.V. is abundant, covering all areas of life, but to me it isn’t real. It is just a way for someone to make money off of people behaving badly. You don’t need to have talent to be famous these days. So what is real? Is reality real or a work of fiction? I look around the world today and see that people can say whatever they want and say it is true, even when it is definitely not. Fact, fiction, truth or lies, seem to have no true meaning anymore. I have looked back on my own life and wondered how much of it is true. Have I just been living in some dream or at times it is more likely to say a nightmare?  Once upon a time, you could read a newspaper and it would actually have real facts. Journalists were accountable for what they wrote; you could trust the majority of what you read. Now even the news isn’t real. It is opinions, and temper tantrums, or exploitation of people’s private lives that is none of our business.

So once again I ask the question what is real? There is only one answer for me, and that is Jesus is the Son of God, who is my Heavenly Father, Creator, the Great I Am. Jesus paid the price for my sins dying on a cross and rose on the third day to give me life. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. He has gone to prepare a place to take me home to. He has given me His Holy Spirit to be my Helper and Comforter. I have hope because of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit that no matter how bad this life gets, and no matter what happens that I am going to be okay because He is never going to leave me and that His love I can always count on because it is the ONLY real thing to me in this world.

These are my thoughts. God bless and keep you, in Jesus name.

Song / You give love a bad name

Are we giving love a bad name? We who are called Christians a representatives of Christ Jesus. the question I have to ask all of us, myself included is, ‘Are we giving love a bad name?’ When people see us do they see God’s love? Or do they just see someone who goes to church and speaks the language, but does not love? 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that no matter what we do if it is without love, we are just making noise. We are not here to put on an act or play a part but to live in Christ and share Him with all. Be good ambassadors and give Love a good name, because God is love and the only way some may ever see Him, is in us.

Notes on message on love/2nd draft

Notes on message on love/2nd draft

The more notes I make on this message on love the more I am seeing a need to make the first message/sermon an introduction. We all have our thoughts and opinions on love, and we know who God is, but do we know Him? So I here is my second attempt, and I hope that you will share your thoughts, insights, and even any corrections you think I need to make.

Message:

I have a question for all of us. When you hear the word love, what is the first thing that you think of?

If you would please write down your answer.

How many of you wrote down God? Did you answer your husband/wife, or boyfriend or girlfriend? Did your mother, father, or child come to mind?

These are all good answers. A husband loves his wife and vice versa. A parent loves their child and the child loves their parents. Relationships are usually based on love. But what is loves? Where does love come from? I would like to introduce you to Love.

Today we form relationships that do not last. Relationships built on sand with an expiration date. Yet real love is true and eternal, because God is eternal and His love is eternal. To know Love we need to know God.

Scripture tells us that God is our Heavenly Father. He created Adam out of the dust, and breathed life into him.(Genesis 2) Then He created Eve from Adam’s rib. He is also known to be our husband and Maker.(Isaiah 54:5-8). So we can see here the relationship between husband and wife, and the relationship of parent and child and how these relationships can teach us about the relationship with God and how they are all founded in love. The husband and wife relationship teaches us how two become one, and how we are to be one with God. Then that love produces a child or children, fruits of love. Love continues to grow and more fruit is produced. For this love to grow it needs to remain pure, and undefiled. How can we do this? He gave us us His commandments to keep us safe. There are two commandments that relate directly to relationships. Honor your mother and father, and do no commit adultery.(Exodus 20) Committing adultery is cheating on more than your spouse, but cheating on God. Honoring our parents, honors God. Keeping His commands keep us from being separated from Him.

In marriage the two have become one. The husband and wife become one flesh, leaving their old lives behind. As a bride of Christ, we leave behind the person we were and become a new creation in Christ. He chose us, but we also have to choose Him, and choose to leave our old self behind. Love is not selfish and gives all that it has.(1Corinthians 13) It is a choice we make over and over, everyday.

Do you remember the slogan ‘Choose Life”? Today let us choose love. ‘Choose Love, Choose Life’. You can technically live without love, but I say that life is not more than a mere existence. The word love is is used in many ways. People can say I love you, as easily they say hello. When God said He loved us, He proved it through His Son. For their is no greater love than a man lay down his life for another, and what greater man has there ever been? Jesus Christ, Son of God, gave up His life to save all of us.

Let us get to know this love by getting to know the One has loved us long before we ever knew Him.

Call To Prayer / I have a question

Call To Prayer / I have a question

I have a question and look forward to reading your answers. I had another sleepless night and while I laid there trying to fall asleep I had this thought, ‘Why do we go to the alter for prayer at the close of a service?’ I don’t know why this thought came to me. Yes I was praying. I have a prayer board I made hanging next to my bed so when I cannot sleep I can pray for others. Then BANG! This thought just popped into my head. Why is it that we ask people to come to the front of the church with all eyes on them at the end of the service? I have served on a prayer team for the current church I am a member of and have served in this same department at previous churches and never had this thought crossed my mind. I have many times been heart broken when the alter of prayer remained empty, knowing that many are hurting lost, and have some kind of need, either for themselves or a loved one. So why am I laying in bed praying and hoping for sleep did I question why do we ask people to come to the alter with the congregation as an audience to pray? I started thinking how many do not approach because they don’t want every eye looking at them, passing judgement (this does not mean they are being judged but the fear of being judged and maybe even gossiped about). I thought about Jesus teaching us to go into our closet to pray, but then I also thought about the scriptures about going to the elders to have them lay hands on us to pray and anoint us. These thoughts may be nothing more than thoughts of a sleep deprived mind. But I would like to know if anyone knows when this part of a church service began?

A fellow bloggers question and challenge

This question and challenge was given to me by another blogger;

Trumpeters Call

9 hoursromboughrobert.wordpress.comI wonder if you would assist me in sharing this question which is a parable the Holy Spirit shared with me. I first ask those about to ponder this to think about what the Lord offered the Samaritan woman at the well. The parable goes as such, you are a shepherd moving your flock to a new pasture. As you travel you come upon a road that goes down the middle of two lush fields one has a well the other not. The grass in both is lush and green, both have flocks grazing, the one without the well the sheep look very content and peaceful. Which of the two as a shepherd would you lead your flock too? Keep in mind no right or wrong answer, only to ponder why you chose what you did. Robert.

I pray you will pose this to your followers and observe their answers

Call To Prayer / Focus

Call To Prayer / Focus

Focus is one of my weaknesses. My mind can wander so easily. I even find this during my Bible study researching. While looking up scriptures for one subject, I read scriptures that lead me to to other subjects. This has made preparations for teachings a struggle at times. Yet because the Word is filled with so much knowledge it is understandable that my thoughts can wander from one subject to the next. Yet I work through it and manage to get my focus back on topic and finish the lesson.

It is in the other areas of my life where my focus wanders that getting back on track. It even happens during my prayer times where staying focused is important. There are many needs to be prayed for from personal to global needs. Scriptures speak of meditating on His Word. Keeping focused on what God has spoken. Not just hearing but listening carefully.

Definition of focus

FOCUS
1a : a center of activity, attraction, or attention the focus of the meeting was drug abuse put immigration into focus as a hot topic for commentators
b : a point of concentration
2 : directed attention : emphasis The focus is on helping the homeless.
3a : direction sense 6c the team lost focus
b : a state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding tried to bring the issues into focus
c : adjustment for distinct vision also : the area that may be seen distinctly or resolved into a clear image

Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.

One thing that the prayer boards I have made for myself and others has helped me to stay focused in my prayer time. Yet it is not the only way to focus. Keeping distractions from getting you off track is not always an easy thing to do. Horses wear blinders to keep them from being distracted during a race. Well we are in a race so to speak.

CORINTHIANS 9:23-25 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.…

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

Meditate : intransitive verb
1 : to engage in contemplation or reflection He meditated long and hard before announcing his decision.
2 : to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness

transitive verb
1 : to focus one’s thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over He was meditating his past achievements.
2 : to plan or project in the mind : intend, purpose He was meditating revenge.

Psalm 119:15-16 I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.

Psalm 63:6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,

Psalm 119:148 My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.

Let us continue in prayer together, and to intercede for others, for loved ones, coworkers, communities, ministries, organizations, nations, and leaders to name a few things we pray for. Keeping focus on His Love, peace and directions, and for His will to be done.

How do you keep focused?

What scriptures help you?

What ministries do you support?

What do you need prayers for?

Please leave your answers in the comments, and let us continue to pray together and for each other.

God bless you and keep you safe.

May 3, 2020 The Dead Sea

Today I have been thinking about the Dead Sea. Many tourists travel to it because of the high mineral content and the buoyancy caused by the salt volume. This is supposed to have healing qualities, but it is the name that is stuck in my mind today. Water flows in but it goes no where and this is to be the reason why for the high salt and mineral content. This sea is called dead because it cannot support life. Water continues to flow in but then it under the sun it evaporates. I wonder how many of us are like the Dead Sea? His spirit and blessings are flowing into us, but what are we doing with what He is giving to us? Works do not produce faith but faith should produce works.

James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.(Read James 2:14-24)

Think about the parable of ‘the servants and the talents. Matthew 25:14-30. In this parable three servants are each given talents. The amounts varied, but it was what each servant did with what was given to them. The first two increased their talents, but the third one buried his talent and it produced him nothing. It is with this servant that the master was not pleased. This servant lost his talent and it was given to the first servant. This parable too, reminds of the Dead Sea. I want to be like the first two servants and do something with what God has entrusted to me.

Even though I have faced many trials and abuse in my life, I know He has been with me through it all. He kept me going when I there was nothing I could do. When I felt hopeless He gave me hope. He did not create me for the pain I have lived through but that pain inspires me to help others who are in pain. I don’t want to wallow in my self pity, but share that even when everything in the world is coming against you, He never leaves you and His love is limitless. For all that He has done for me I want to do whatever I can to be there for others. I want to be a vessel that He uses, not one that sits on a shelf collecting dust, and I don’t want to be a dead sea. Receiving but doing nothing with what He has given to me. I want to be more than a hearer of the Word, but a doer as well.

What about you? Are you using what has been given to you to further His Kingdom, or are you sitting their collecting dust?

 

 

Questions for the day / February 26, 2019

Asking Questions You Have The Answer To.   

When you were a kid did you ever answer your parents not completely truthfully because you did not think they knew the answer? I am sure a lot of us did. Why would they ask us a question if they already knew the answer? That would be pointless, right?

This makes me think when Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” He asked a second time, “Peter, do you love me?” I am sure Peter was confused and he answered yes both times. We know that Jesus knew the answer before He asked the question. So for whose benefit was the question? Sometimes the one asking the question is not looking for an answer but is trying to teach you something.

Teaching by asking a question makes you think about your answer and if you do not have an answer then you take time and put the effort into finding the answer. I will sometimes ask a question that I have my own answer, but I want to know what the other is thinking. I want their perspective and opinion. I have plenty of my own opinions and I have eyes that see good enough, but I like learning. I like seeing things through another’s eyes. How about you? Do you like learning and seeing new things? Then ask questions that you already have your own answers to. Some will give you the answers that agree with your own and others may give you a new way of seeing things. Asking questions helps us to get to know one another. There are things we will not know if we do not ask the question. So are there any questions you want to ask me?