2 samuel 12:21-23

 

WHEN A CHILD DIES...

2 SAMUEL 12: 21-23

courtesy of find a grave

21) Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done?  thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

22) And he said, while the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

23) But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast?  can I bring him back again?  I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.                         King James Version (KJV) Public Domain

COMMENTARY

   Have you not read the account of King David and Bathsheba?  The time of the year when most kings were at battle, King David was in his castle and his men were waging wars.  So, while he was home, he saw a woman on a neighboring rooftop taking a bath.  She was beautiful.  King David made inquiries about her only to discover that she was the wife of one of his top warriors, Uriah, the Hittite.  Uriah was loyal to the King.

   To make a long story short, King David sent for Bathsheba and had relations with her.  When she relayed that he got her pregnant, the King sent for her husband (Uriah) so he would come and have relations with her in an attempt to cover up his part in the pregnancy.  Uriah came home, but did not sleep with his wife out of loyalty to God, the other fighting men, and the King.  King David even had him stay another night and got him drunk, so he would have relations with his wife.  Still, he did not.

   Finally, King David sent Uriah back to battle with written instructions to the captain to place Uriah in the heat of the battle and then have the men retreat, leaving him defenseless.  They did and Uriah was killed.  Bathsheba went into mourning but King David was relieved that his sin was hidden.  He then, married Bathsheba.

   Then comes Nathan, the Prophet and condemns the King in front of all Israel.  King David confesses his sin and repents.  He should have surely died for his sin, but God spared his life.  God, however, took Uriah's wife's son and also placed King David's house under a curse.

   Understand this:  the child, born from adultery,  was not part of God's plan for King David.  The Messiah would come from the line of David.  

   David fasted and prayed for the life of the child but God said, "no."  When the child had died, King David pulled himself up, dusted himself off, and the first thing he did was to praise his God!  Now, notice what he said.....the child will not return to me, BUT I WILL GO TO HIM.  The child is innocent of sin until the age of accountability, even though his parents are guilty, .  God takes children to Himself.  It is not for us to question His motives, but to accept His will.  

   Again, in this particular instance, Jesus was to be born in the line of David, so God was making a way for Him.  In our lives, we don't always see what God has on His mind when He takes our babies, our children.  Even though, let us praise Him for the time we had them, that He chose us to be worthy of having them even for a short time.  Especially so if the child has a medical condition.  That is our time of concentrated love and attention for them.  In all things, let us sing His praise!  Amen?

   The beginning of having a relationship with The Creator of All things begins here:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

What are your thoughts?  You are encouraged to leave a comment.  We love to hear from you.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, we welcome your prayers that God will bless this ministry and use us to reach those who seek Him.  Please also share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.

PSALM 91

 PSALM 91

1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:  my God; in Him will I trust.

3) Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4) He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust:  His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;

6) Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8) Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9) Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10) There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11) For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13) Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:  the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14) Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name.

15) He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him:  I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.

16) With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.

COMMENTARY

Verse 1) The closer you walk with God, the more His shadow falls upon you.  When you are that close to Him, no evil can touch you for fear of God's power.

Verse 2) When we declare that God is my refuge and my fortress, rather than just believe it, we honor Him and others see our confidence and are led to Him.  It is our duty to Him to proclaim His greatness.

Verse 3) Faith gives Believers a cheerful heart; a cheerful heart does not fear.  Fear kills more people than pestilence, especially if they fear dying.  Salvation makes the Believer immortal.  Don't you want this kind of peace of mind?  You can have it with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Click here for more information:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

Verse 4) God gives us an example of how He protects us:  like being covered with His feathers and tucked securely under His wing, much like a chicken protecting her young. 

Verse 5) We are shown as being impervious to "midnight frights and horrors born of darkness."  All evil things that lurk in the dark.  No weapon formed against us shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17

Verse 6) The Believer who is protected of God has no fear of virus nor bacteria.  

Verse 7) We have seen thousands die recently after man designed a virus.   Some may have been in the inner circle of Believers who seek God constantly, I don't know.  I will say this:  to live is Christ; to die is gain.  We don't fear death:  O death, where is your sting?  O grave, where is your victory?  1 Corinthians 15: 55

Verse 8) God is a Holy God.  He cannot look upon the sin of the wicked.  They will be punished.  This is self evident.

Verse 9) When you make God your habitation, He is your Father.  He protects like no earthly father possibly can.

Verse 10) Consider the plagues with which God tormented Egypt before they let the Israelites go.  God still protects His own.

Verse 11) We have angels in close proximity to us.  Not just one angel, but we have many.  Angels are powerful creatures.

Verse 12) Our angels are charged with our safety.  They are like unto a garrison protecting our body, soul, and spirit. 

Verse 13) No matter where we go, He prepares our way.

Verse 14) When you set your love on God, He loves you all the more.

Verse 15) Our prayers are answered, and we recognize the answer, even when it is not the answer we asked for.  Amen?  Furthermore, we praise Him for the answer.

Verse 16) Whether we die young or old, our days will be filled and then, we get to see God!

I sincerely pray that this ministry is a blessing to you.  We have experienced heartache and we have experienced attack from Satan.  This chapter of Psalms reminds us that God is on His throne and Satan with all of his legion of fallen angels are no match for God.  If this post is a blessing to you, please pray for us that God uses us to promote His kingdom.  You are encouraged to leave us a comment and to share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you.

 

a sermon from Pastor Chris Hodges entitled Dream.

 DREAM--A SERMON FROM PASTOR CHRIS HODGES

image courtesy of  Nikola Johnny Mirkovic on Unsplash.com

Posted by Angie Senchal, a bondswoman of Jesus Christ, on July 30, 2018,  on social media while she had been focused on battling breast cancer.  I find this post may be helpful in this season of Corona Virus and our election upheaval.  Leave us a comment if this post is a blessing to you.

"I realized that I had stopped dreaming. We had been so busy this last year just trying to survive, that our dreams were on pause. His message encouraged me to dream again. I would like to share some of his points with you in case you find yourself needing to dream again.

Sometimes all we can do in life is just hang-on during the survival mode but you need to realize, there will come a time where you need to dream again. Don’t dream small but DREAM BIG.

He talked about five different people and their dreams.

1. People with No dream –In Jeremiah 33:3 it says, “call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” If this is you, draw close to God and let him give you a dream.

2. People with a wrong dream – It may be a good dream but one that doesn’t matter eternally. A career is great but you need a calling to live for. If you are pursuing a career, money, and family . . .these are all wonderful, but be sure you have something that is driving you to make an eternal difference.

3. People with a stale dream – They have the right dream it’s just grown cold. It may have gotten delayed and now it’s stale. We will go through seasons of being stale. Find your dream again and breathe life back into it`

4. People with a vague dream – Their dream is not specific enough. Habakkuk 2:2 “Write down what I reveal to you so that he may run who reads it.” Dream big and write it down.

5. People with a God honoring dream – A dream that is a culture defying dream, a Heaven impacting dream, and a seemingly impossible dream.

I feel like God has clearly given me a new perspective on life and now it’s time I dream big! I want to make sure people know that God will carry you through every storm of life!

Sometimes life is NOT fair, but we get to choose our responses! If you will turn to the Lord in every situation, you will be blessed and encouraged by His Spirit.

I don’t know how people survive without knowing who Jesus is and what He can do in your life. You can’t just know about him, you must have a relationship with Him for it to be meaningful! You have to fall in love with Jesus."  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

 "I leave you with these song lyrics by Jonathan Butler.

Falling in love with Jesus
Falling in love with Jesus
Falling in love with Jesus
Was the best thing I've ever
Ever done, oh, yes, oh, yes, oh, yes
Falling in love with Jesus
Falling in love with Jesus
Falling in love with Jesus
Was the best thing I've ever, ever done
In His arms, I feel protected
In His arms, never disconnected, no, no
In His arms, I feel protected
There's no place I'd rather, rather be"

https://www.youtube.com/watch…

You are encouraged to share this post on your favorite social media if this has blessed you and please pray for us as we share The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Thank you.

THE CREATION PART 1 of MANY

 THE CREATION

GENESIS 1:1

photo courtesy of  U.S. Army - White Sands Missile Range/Applied Physics Laboratory [1]https://chaoglobal.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/nasa-15/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12004314

Verse 1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

  King James Version (KJV) Public Domain

COMMENTARY

reference The Genesis Record by Henry Morris

1) In the beginning - this denotes the creation of time.  Before the beginning was God.  He created time and is not bound by time.

2) The word for God here is Elohim.  Click here for a detailed description of His Name: https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-names-of-god-elohim.html

3) He created the tangible (liquid, solid, gas) and the intangible (time, energy).  He did not just make our world with that which already was, but He spoke and all things came into being.  Now, that's powerful!  Do you know that your tongue is powerful, also?  That is a topic for another time.

4) Heaven here is actually understood as meaning the heavens:  the atmosphere, space, outer space, inner space, atmospheric space, etc.  Surely if you are going to work on a project, you should allow for ample space.  If you were going to create the universe, you would need enough space for everything to fit it in, right?  So, here He created "space".

5) The word for earth here can be translated matter, like the components of dirt.  You know how farmers dig up the earth for planting?  That doesn't mean they dig up all of this planet, but a small portion of ground.  So, Elohim was gathering His material to create the planets and stars i.e., space, energy, time, and earth.  The fact is that the planet earth was not created on the first day, but the fourth.

6) We understand that time, space, and matter are a continuum.  Not one of them have substantial meaning without the other two.

7) Since our world has a beginning, how old is it?  Well, if you listen to modern scientists, you may believe that it is millions of years old.  These are the same people who tell you that a baby is just a glob of cells in the womb.  Calculating the date using the timeline of births and generations in the Holy Bible, scholars conclude that the planet Earth was created at some point between 3760 B.C. and 5555 B.C.  The Earth cannot be older than 10,000 years and is probably closer to 6,000 years old.

The Creator of All Things yearns for a relationship with you.  Won't you say yes to Him?  Please learn more by clicking here:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html. 

   If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray that God will use us for His glory as we spread The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Also, you are invited to share this post on your favorite social media.

We would love to hear from you, so leave us your thoughts, questions, or suggestions in a comment on this site.  Indicate if you do NOT want your comment published for all of the www to see.  Thank you.

PSALM 33

PSALM 33

1) Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous:  for praise is comely for the upright.

2) Praise the Lord with harp:  sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3) Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.

4) For the Word of the Lord is right; and all His works are done in truth.

5) He loveth righteousness and judgment:  the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

6) By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

7) He gathers the waters of the sea together as an heap:  He lays up the depth in storehouses.

8) Let all the earth fear the Lord:  let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

9) For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

10) The Lord brings the counsel of the heathen to nought:  He makes the devices of the people of none effect.

11) The counsel of the Lord stands for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.

12) Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.

In God We Trust

 

13) The Lord looks from heaven; He beholds all the sons of men.

14) From the place of His habitation He looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15) He fashions their hearts alike; He considers all their works.

16) There is no king saved by the multitude of an host:  a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17) An horse is a vain thing for safety:  neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 

18) Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy;

19) To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

20) Our soul waits for the Lord:  He is our help and our shield.

21) For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His Holy Name.

22) Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.  

King James Version  (KJV)  Public Domain  (modified to modern language)

COMMENTARY

1) "Praise is not comely in unpardoned professional singers."  This is how Charles Spurgeon states it in his commentary, "The Treasury of David", where I am studying The Psalms.  It is uncomely for the Unsaved to sing praises to God.

2) All notes of music belong to God.  He deserves all of them to be played in worship of Him, holding nothing back.

3)  All of God's children should loudly and skillfully sing His praises.  No mumbling or discords.

4) The works of God are done as an outflow of His Word, which is truth.

5) If God sees no righteousness in us (if we are not washed in the blood of Jesus Christ and His righteousness be imputed to us), then He will judge us righteously.  It's that simple.  Have you been washed in the blood of Jesus?  click here to learn more:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

6) Another Name for Jesus is The Word but also note that the "Breath" is also credited for creation.  "Breath" is elsewhere rendered "Spirit".  So the entire Godhead is involved in creation.

7) The masses of water are not only where they can be seen by mankind, but some are hidden away in storehouses in the bowels of the earth.  Some feed springs.  Some release pressure as geysers.  God's creation reveals Truths about Him.

8) Even the involuntary trembling of fear is a form of worship.  One day, there will be universal worshipping of the One True God.

9) Even as He created all that is, He also sustains His works by His great power.

10) God thwarts the lots of the heathen.  Though they might slander and persecute Him, they have no ultimate effect.  

11) No device of His foes can thwart His will.  His is the ultimate word on all things.  He is the same God for all time and His will carries from generation to generation seamlessly, "producing ordained results with unerring certainty"

12) Everyone, each person, whose confidence is in the Lord is blessed in the largest and deepest sense, and no one and nothing can reverse the blessing.  Jehovah first calls us to be His people then we take Him to be our God.  We are the delight of the Lord, so we should display our calling for all to see.

13) God never takes His eyes off of His children no matter where you are on the globe.  He is constantly caring for those who put our trust in Him.

14) It is worth repeating that God sees us all day and all night.  He never sleeps and never gets distracted.

15) All hearts are created by God:  hearts of kings and of beggars; and He gives all of us free will.  So, what God sees in our hearts is up to us.

16) There is no power in this world that can protect you when God turns His face from you.  Likewise, there is no power in this world that can harm you when God protects you.  period.  end of story.  Lean on Him for everything and give Him praise for EVERY LITTLE blessing.  By the way, if you want this kind of peace of mind, click here for more information:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html

17) The horse is a mighty animal which has been used by armies for centuries. Even a strong, fast horse cannot be trusted to keep you safe, because he can fall on you, kick you, become lame, etc.  Likewise, even the most feared marksman or karate fighter cannot deliver himself from harm.  The Believer, in contrast, has a banquet set up for him in the face of his foes (Psalms 23: 5)  

18) The commentary here states, "They who fear God need not fear anything else; let them fix their eyes of faith on Him and His eye of love will always rest upon them."  Have you not read, "Fear not"?  This is written in the Holy Bible repeatedly.

19) The Apostle Paul said it all:  "To live is Christ; to die is gain."  God will rescue if it is His will; if not, He will bring you home.

20) Daniel prayed to God and was answered.  However, it took three weeks for the answer to be delivered.  Daniel kept praying and waiting, not loosing hope.  The Lord provides for our labor and He alone protects us.

21) I watched my sister battle the spirit of disease for over a decade.  During that time, she was totally devoted to sharing The Gospel.  She may not have been perfect, but her root of faith yielded a crop of rejoicing, even in her death.  Can I take a moment to say this:  if you have ANYONE who loves you, please accept the gift of salvation.  Your funeral will be a celebration of your life for those you leave behind rather than a tormenting pain that never stops.

22) This one line should be the prayer of all Believers.

If this post is a blessing to you, please pray for us as we humbly spread The Gospel that God may be glorified.  You are encouraged to leave your thoughts in the comment section on this site and share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you all so much.  May you be in good health and prosper, even as your soul prospers.  3 John 2

TWO NATIONS ARE IN THY WOMB

Genesis 25: 19 - 25

TWO NATIONS ARE IN THY WOMB

photo courtesy of BabyCenter.com

19) And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son:  Abraham begat Isaac:

20) And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

21) And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren:  and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22) And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. 

23) And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

24) And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25) And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

26) And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob:  and Isaac was threescore (60) years old when she bare them.  King James Version   Public Domain

JESUS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HATRED?

I. The Setting of the statement:

   A. Their Birth  (Genesis 25: 19-26) 

        Jacob and Esau's birth represented the beginning of two nations.  Esau was the firstborn and thereby legal heir to the family birthright which included, among other things, being a recipient to the covenant between God and Abraham.  God foretold, prior to their birth, that the birthright would be Jacob's.  For this birthright was to be the link in the line of descent through which the Promised Messiah would be born.  (Numbers 24: 17-19)

   B. Their Character (Genesis 25: 26, 27)

        Esau was a skillful hunter.  He was an outdoorsman in every sense of the word.  Jacob was said to be plain and dwelled in tents.  In other words, Jacob's life was boring!  Nothing exciting to write about.  No great adventures to tell.  The word "plain" describes Jacob's character to come - as a person who would become a man of God. (Psalm 135:4)  Remember, a person's character is an overflow of the state of their heart. 

   C. Their Interest (Genesis 25: 26 - 34)

        Esau had no interest in spiritual things so he agreed to sell his birthright to Joseph.  His response revealed the value he placed on the birthright as he impulsively surrendered the spiritual, his birthright, to his younger brother for temporary satisfying the physical, his hunger.  I could make an entire sermon just from these verses alone!  We often do the same thing today as Esau, ignoring the eternal/spiritual for the temporal/physical.  Oh, how I cry unto my LORD regarding this.

II. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STATEMENT!

   A. God did not hate Esau in the sense of cursing him or setting Himself against him.  After all, Esau was a blessed man.  (Genesis 33:9, 36: 1 - 43)  God loving Jacob and hating Esau had nothing to do with the human emotions of love and hate as we understand them.  It had everything to do with God choosing one man and his descendants and rejecting another and his descendants because of their character.  Romans 9 teaches us that God unconditionally elected Jacob to be the recipient of the Abrahamic Covenant:  Jacob would be blessed; his seed would be blessed and the world would be blessed through his seed.  But Jacob being elected to receive the blessing didn't determine Esau's cursing.  It was his character and behavioral choices in that he rejected God. 

  We all have free will.  At any time, we can choose God over all gods.  We can humble ourselves to the King of Kings and obey Him, fully complying with His will.  He chose each one of us.  We are the ones who chooses to have our names blotted out of The Lamb's Book of Life.  The choice is ours alone.  What is your choice?  click here for more information on eternal salvation:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

   B. God hating Esau and loving Jacob was more about rejection and acceptance of God Himself.  Remember, in the Holy Bible, the word hatred means to despise or love less but it also means rejection.  (Romans 9: 1 - 13) God loved Jacob and hated Esau because when he sold his birthright, he snubbed the privilege he had been given and thereby rejected God and in turn God rejected him.  It was according to acceptance that one, Jacob, would receive the Abrahamic covenant and one would reject it, Esau, by his very behavior and attitude regarding the birthright.  The whole significance of the statement is that when God declared Jacob and his descendants to be the recipients  of the Abrahamic Covenant through whom the Savior would come, He chose to love Israel like no other.  

   Here, can I say, that the last of the Ten Commandments is:  Thou shalt not covet.  Breaking this Commandment actually leads to breaking most if not all of the others.  Be content with your blessings.  Be happy for the blessings of others.  Lean on Jehovah Rohi for all of your needs and desires. Put His Kingdom first and He will adjust your attitude and desires.

III. The Seriousness Of The Statement!

   The seriousness of God loving Jacob and hating Esau is that salvation is based on God's sovereign choice.  This is important... in order for God's sovereign purposes in election to stand it must not be by works but of God Who calls us according to His grace.  (Titus 3:5).  It is God's choice because our salvation originated in His heart.  (Ephesians 1:4, Revelation 13, Romans 9: 16)

 ROMANS 9

1) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2) That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4) Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5) Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.  Amen.

6) Not as though the word of God has taken no effect.  For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:  

7) Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children:  but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8) That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God:  but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

9) For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah (Abraham's wife) shall have a son.

10) And not only this; but when Rebecca (Isaac's wife) also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calls;)

12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14) What shall we say then?  Is there unrighteousness with God?  God forbid.

15) For He said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16) So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. 

So, here are the points":

1) God has the sovereign right to reject anyone but He only does so, not because He hates them, but due to their rejection of Him like Esau did.

2) God's sovereign election involves a choosing prior to one's birth with a rejection of what a person will do in their life in response to His offer of salvation.

3) The idea taught here discards the belief that God ever appointed anyone to eternal life or death before they were born.

     So, let's be thankful for so great a salvation that we have been given.  Amen?

  This post if based on the sermon received from our Pastor at First Baptist Church of New Caney, Texas.  If this has been a blessing to you, please pray for our church and our blog ministry, that God will use us to reach those who are seeking His face.  You are encouraged to leave a message in the comment section with questions or your thoughts about this post.  We enjoy hearing from you.

   Also, please share this post on your favorite social media if this has been a blessing to you.  

POPE FRANCIS STATEMENT ON HOMOSEXUALITY

 POPE FRANCIS STATEMENT ON HOMOSEXUALITY 

photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

   Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, has received increased attention in the news media for his outlandish statements regarding church and the world.  I have been asked to make a response regarding these statements.  His recent statement is regarding alternate sexual lifestyles, but rest assured, this is not the only topic that has his statements contradicting traditional religious beliefs.  For this post, though, this is the one I will address.

   The Associated Press released a report on October 22, 2020 saying the Head of the Catholic Church endorses homosexuality.  He was being interviewed  for a feature length documentary when he was quoted as saying, "Homosexual people have the right to be in a family.  They are children of God," Francis said.  "You can't kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this.  What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered."

   It is rather ironic, that Americans tried to do just that.  Homosexuals were offered civil unions but were militant in insisting on having "marriage".  Americans were willing to tolerate their deviant lifestyle but they demanded acceptance and promotion of their evil ways.  Anyone who did not endorse their lifestyle was labeled with many terms, such as "homophobe".

   It was not ordinary Americans nor was it common homosexuals who had issues with civil unions.  Even the government was willing to work with the deviant community to reach an agreement on civil union benefits.  No, it was not citizens who took offense, but the organizations behind disrupting our country.

   In October of 2016, while Barack Obama was still President of the United States of America, some Wikileaks emails were released which put the spotlight on John Podesta and Hillary Clinton's plan to infiltrate the Catholic church with progressive ideology.  That was the purpose of creating Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, a George Soros-funded, non-profit.  It is dedicated to galvanizing, shocking and exciting Catholics and Christian voters into taking action in support of progressive candidates, causes, and legislation.  They (CACG) deplore economic inequality and view conservative politics and free markets as the enemies of authentic social justice.

   I realize that I took the long way around to explain why traditional Christian teachings on human life, other social issues, and religious liberty are considered "deplorable" and "irredeemable" by the Left.  This is Satan still trying to undermine God's authority, His redemptive plan for mankind.

   Now, to address the statements by Pope Francis, let us see what God has to say:  "6) But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.  7) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8) And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh."  (twain is defined as "two")  Mark 10: 6-8

   When God gave the laws to Moses in the Book of Leviticus, it reads:

18:22) "Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind:  It is an abomination."

20:13) "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination:  they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

   I know God's Law is harsh, but He is holy and cannot look upon sin.  Fortunately, for us, we are living under the Dispensation of Grace.  Jesus gave His life for us so that we can have His righteousness and He took our sin.  All we have to do is to accept His sacrifice for us.  For more about salvation, click here:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

   The Apostle Paul said it this way, found in 1 Corinthians 6:

9) Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived:  Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10) nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  11)  And that is what some of you were.  (then you repented of your sins and accepted the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ) But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  Jesus took your punishment and He gave you freedom to live for Him.

   Now, surely my children knew I would start talking about my Jesus.  Here's the deal:  what Pope Francis said is partially true, but that is the way Satan works.  Satan is the father of lies and half truths.  Christians are not to judge the sinner, but we must stand firmly against the sin.  We are to love the sinner as Christ loves us, that while were yet sinners, He died for us.

You are welcome to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We monitor our email several times daily.  If this post is a blessing to you, please pray that God uses us to reach those who are seeking Him.  You are also encouraged to share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you.

  

THE ROAD TO SALVATION

 THE ROAD TO SALVATION

The Apostle Paul wrote letters to the Church in Rome, which we call the Book of Romans.  In these letters, we find what we refer to as "The Roman Road", which guides us to salvation:

1.   Have you ever looked at the starry sky at night and had that feeling that you are so small on a very small planet?  Have you wondered where everything came from and how it came to be so systematic?  A goat comes from a goat, spinach comes from spinach, etc.  Romans 1:20-21:  "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

2.   After we understand that God created this world in which we live, we then understand that through Adam and Eve, we are born into sin.  Romans 3: 23:  "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God."

3.   God knew we could not be perfect since we were born into sin, so He established a plan for our salvation through Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who was born of a virgin.  Romans 5: 8:  "But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
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4.   If we remain sinners, we will die.  We are convicted and sitting on death row.  However, if we repent of our sins, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will have eternal life.  Jesus takes our place on the gallows.  Romans 6: 23:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (We give our guilt, shame, heavy hearts, etc. to Him; He washes us of ALL unrighteousness and immediately forgives ALL of our sin and short comings: past, present, and future.  Then, as we grow in our walk with Him, He teaches us how to walk away from our old life and follow in His footsteps.)

5.   Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you are saved.  Romans 10: 9-10:  "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

6.   Jesus in the only way to salvation and eternal life.  Romans 10:13:  "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

7.   Determine in your heart to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life.  Romans 11:36:  "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Whom be glory forever.  Amen."

THE SINNER'S PRAYER

   Dear God in Heaven, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

Lord, I realize my situation; I am a sinner and the penalty for sin is death.  I realize that even though I am walking around, talking, working, eating, sleeping; I am really sitting on death row.  Lord, thank you for opening my eyes.  I now ask you to forgive me of my sins.

  

Lord, I believe that Jesus is Your only begotten Son, born of a virgin.  I believe He lived a sinless life but took on my sin on the cross.  He took my place on that cross that I might be set free.  Lord, wash me in His blood, cleanse me of my sins.

I believe Jesus was crucified for my sin and that He conquered Hell, sin, and the grave and was resurrected three days later.  I believe He now sits at your right hand, interceding on my behalf.  I believe He will return to gather all who are saved.

Lord, through faith, I remove myself from the "throne" of my life and place You there.  Please take control.  Please send The Holy Spirit to remake me in Your image, in the Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Thank you, Father.  I praise Your Holy Name!

 

If you have accepted Jesus, please leave us a comment with the good news!

NAMES OF GOD-----JEHOVAH ROHI

 NAMES OF GOD-----JEHOVAH ROHI

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

   We once again explore the twenty third Psalm for this Name of God.  This Psalm was written by King David, who "was a man after God's own heart".  He was far from perfect.  Do you know the Psalm?  "The Lord is my Shepherd".  The Lord is present continually taking care of my needs.  We have been reviewing the Book of Revelation, which reveals much activity in Heaven in relation to scenes on Earth, but my Shepherd takes care of the individual.  He saved your soul and He is certainly able to take care of your daily needs.

   "I shall not want."  Ezekiel 34: 2-4 lists the job requirement for what God expects of a shepherd:  feed the flock, strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring back the strays, and seek the lost.  Here I must confess that I have prayed, fasted, and anointed but I have never seen my healing prayers answered in real time.  I do know He is able, so I continue to pray for others to be healed, believing it will happen.  Now, the above job requirement does not include tending to wolves or goats, just sheep.

   We have covered about how dumb sheep are, but the first step in allowing God to be your shepherd is to admit you are a sheep.  Sheep are not only dumb but also defenseless, dirty, and dependent.  They have to have someone tending to them constantly.  They cannot find sufficient food, they cannot clean themselves, and they cannot defend themselves.  See also 'https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/2018/01/psalm-23.html'

   "He makes me to lie down in green pastures."  We are not invited to lie down, to rest.  God wants to renew our strength, our energy, so He makes us lie down but He also provides the green pastures.  There is comfort and food.  "He leads us beside still water" because sheep cannot drink from running waters.  They are not sure footed so if they have to walk out into running water, they will surely fall and the weight of the water in their wool would make it impossible for them to pull themselves out of the water.  They will surely drown.

   "He restores my soul."  Just as the body needs rest, water, and food, the soul must be cared for.  For me, He has given the Holy Bible, commentaries, church, radio stations which play praise music, television ministries, fellow Christians, etc.  I feel like I am at the buffet table with all He has provided for me.  But first, I had to let go of self-sufficiency and recognize Him as my shepherd.  He has not disappointed.  As we rest in Him, He restores our sense of hope, purpose, and life.  We learn not to lean on our own understanding, but to give Him our cares; then we sleep good at night, knowing He will work all things to the good of those who love Him.

   "He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

   "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name sake."  He is my personal navigation system that cannot fail.  I can get off the path, but He will "recalculate", instruct me to make a "u turn" when I lose my way.  He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name sake.  His very reputation is at stake.  When I live a righteous life, I glorify Him, like unto reflecting His image in an enlarging mirror for all to see.

   "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:"  Who doesn't like living on a mountain top?  All of the good things are there and we feel as though the whole world is our footstool.  However, when we walk, we have to go through the valley to reach our next mountain.  In the valley are perceived evil and dangers.  We imagine evil in the shadows.  While we may, indeed, encounter trouble, we are not to give in to fear.  Fear has a way of swallowing us up; paralyzing us; dis-arming us; defeating us.  We must walk through the valley to claim our next mountain!

   Fear not!  " For Thou art with me.  Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me."  My Jesus went through some dark times.  The last one claimed His life in this world; but alas, He was victorious!  We are not of this world, either.  We lean on our God, our Heavenly, Holy Father to see us and take care of us.  Sometimes He will lead us into the "darkness" to grow our faith.  Sometimes, it may be for an even bigger reason, such as He did with Jesus.  Either way, rest assured that He will not leave you or forsake you.  We are here to magnify His name in whatever the end result for us may be.  Can I get an amen?

   Let us talk about His rod and staff:  His rod, among other things, can be used to fend off the enemy.  I am in awe of how much the enemy attacks us!  It is non-stop!  Satan does not want God to have any one of us.  We are instructed to be alert and sober because Satan is like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he an devour.  Then, God uses His staff to pull us back to Him.  Sometimes we mistakenly get off the right path; sometimes we defiantly stray.  Either way, we can find comfort in the knowledge that He is always with us.

   When a shepherd finds a lost sheep, he takes a cloth from his belt and spreads it out with grass and fodder on it to feed the sheep.  While the sheep is eating with the shepherd standing guard, no enemy can harm the sheep.  When God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, it is understood that God Himself is watching over us, so no harm can befall us.

   God also anoints our head with oil.  Here is the imagery:  the sheep has strayed from the path the shepherd had for him.  He got caught in heavy underbrush and was cut or bleeding.  The shepherd pulls him out with his staff, brushes him off, anoints his head with healing oil and prods him back onto the right path.  Don't we get beaten up, scarred, and bruised by some of our choices?  Trust God to take care of His own.  Do you have a saving relationship with God?  click here for more information on that:    https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

   I am a living witness to the fact that God will administer a solution to your problem and/or give you the peace you need to travel through your problem situation.  "My cup overflows."  As long as you are living in the will of God, your cup, too, will be full to overflowing.  He pours His blessings out on His children much as a mother does with her children who bring her delight.  You will have an abundance.

What are your thoughts?  You are encouraged to leave a comment.  We love to hear from you.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, we welcome your prayers that God will bless this ministry and use us to reach those who seek Him.  Please also share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.

PSALM 34

PSALM 34

photo courtesy of Franklin Community Church

1) I will bless the Lord at all times:  His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2) My soul shall make her boast in the Lord:  the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3) O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together.

4) I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5) They looked unto Him, and were lightened:  and their faces were not ashamed.

6) This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7) The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivers them.

8) O taste and see that the Lord is good:  blessed is the man that trusts in Him.

9) O fear the Lord, ye His saints:  for there is no want to them that fear Him.

10) The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger:  but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

11) Come, ye children, hearken unto me:  I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12) What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

13) Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14) Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15) The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.

16) The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17) The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18) The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous:  but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

20) He keeps all his bones:  not one of them is broken.

21) Evil shall slay the wicked:  and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22) The Lord redeems the soul of His servants:  and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.

King James Version (KJV) (slightly modified)  Public Domain

COMMENTARY

I am reading this as "the Lord", "Strong One", "Elohim".  Is that how you are understanding it?  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-names-of-god-elohim.html'

 

1) King David knows to Whom the praise is due and is determined and resolved to give Him His due

in every circumstance, every situation, whether good or not so good.

2) When "my soul" makes her boast, it begins way down in my gut, works her way up in my heart, and springs forth out of my mouth.  When I boast of my Lord, the lowly are comforted and rejoice that, they too, can find goodness in my Lord.

3) Let us praise Him in corporate worship.  Let us encourage others by giving praise reports.  Let us make His Name great by sharing with others what He has done for us!  That statement alone deserves 10,000 pages of great things He has done for me!  Oh, my precious, Holy, Savior Who suffered unimaginable agony for me!  Oh, how I love you!

4) God hears us even while we are sinning.  Gideon was breaking the law when the Angel of the Lord sat down beside him.  Nothing can stand between us and God once we are truly saved.  Have you accepted the gift of salvation?  Click here for more information:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

He dissolves our fears and obliterates the causes.  I can confidently say that I am not afraid of the current worldwide "pandemic".  Can you?  To live is Christ and to die is gain.

5) When we look to God, our Father for help, He does not turn us away.  Sometimes He jumps off into the situation with us just to hold us near; sometimes He slays our dragons. 

6) To be heard of God is to be delivered no matter how simple the prayer....even if it is just groaning.  He hears and understands.

7) Satan had told God that the only reason Job loved Him was for the reward.....that God had built a hedge around Job.  God actually does that for all His children.  He sets angel armies to surround and keep them.  We also see this with Elijah.

8) "Taste", experience that the Lord is good.  Blessings are multiplied for the one who trusts on Him.

9) I found this verse especially comforting for the times to come.  Fear only God.  We have seen images of men kneeling on the beach just before they are executed.  When we stand strong for the Lord, we will want for nothing.  Surely this may be applied to our children, family, friends, etc.  We may die, but perhaps our loved ones will be saved because of our faith.

10) Our might and our strength are no match for what the Lord is able to do for us.  Young lions may suffer hunger even though they are the "king of the jungle".  The same is true of cunning, crafty, unscrupulous men.  All of their ways cannot match God's provision for His children.

11) Children are more trusting when you teach them.  They have not been so affected by cynicism.  Every adult is commissioned to teach the fear of our Holy Lord and the price of sin.  We need to direct them away from sports, television, play, whatever distraction they may have.  We are to get their full attention and raise them not only fearing, but also trusting our Omnipotent Lord.  Then they can have play time afterward.

12) How many people do you know who are just existing?  How many do you know who are really, truly living a joyful, grateful life?  Come with me and I will teach you to cast EVERY care upon my Holy Father.  No drugs, no high blood pressure, no alcohol consumption, no sleepless nights.

13) You cannot spew evil from your tongue lest some of it splatter back on you.  Depending on the wind, a lot of it may not leave you.  When you live a life of lies, it is comparable to living as a spy in the enemy camp:  you never know when you will be discovered and executed.  Clean and honest living keeps the conscience clear and nights restful.

14) Don't go near evil; avoid it.  When you are caught unaware by it, flee from it and lock yourself away from it.  Do good.  There is always something in your life everyday that you can do that is good.  If you have difficulty finding even one thing, email me.  I will help you find it.  He who does good is sure to avoid evil.......at least eventually.  Doing good feels better and lasts longer.  Then, by all means, seek peace...chase after it like it was your fortune in gold.  Nothing promotes your own happiness than peace.  Strife destroys health, relationships, even fortunes.  Pursue peace like your life depends on it.

15) The eyes of the Lord are on His children like a mama's on her newborn.  He hears our cries like that mama does her baby.  We are so precious to Him that He paid an incredible ransom for us.

16) God does not support those who do evil.  In fact, their very name will be cut off and remembered no more eternally.

17) The Lord delights when the righteous cry out to Him so He can show His incredible love for them.  Nothing can stand between us and our Holy Father.

18) Can you think of a bigger broken heart than when one thinks he has done so wrong that God will never forgive him?  That God has walked away from him forever?  BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE!  God draws near to a contrite heart.  When you truly ask Him to forgive you, He washes you so totally clean that you shine!  There is NOTHING that He will not forgive you for.  Try Him in this.

19) Jesus told us that the world hates us because we love Him, so expect trouble.  The louder you get in proclaiming Jesus, the more trouble you should expect.  But He will deliver you.

20) We are identified with Jesus as when He died, is bones were not broken.  This verse has to be taken spiritually.  We will enter heaven with our souls intact.

21)  I actually saw this verse in a western television show, Gunsmoke.  A man and his daughter had come to town and were harassed and harmed but would not file charges.  He kept telling the Marshall that evil destroys itself.  The perpetrators did actually get killed by their own actions.  You can apply the old saying, "give a man enough rope and he will hang himself."  They always get entangled in their own evil ways.

22) Faith is the mark of the Believer.  We will never be abandoned.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray that God uses us for His glory.  You are encouraged to leave us a comments.  We love to hear from you.  

If this post is a blessing to you or you know someone who could benefit from it, please share it on your favorite social media.  Thank you and may God bless you.

THE NAMES OF GOD----JEHOVAH SHALOM

THE NAMES OF GOD

JEHOVAH SHALOM

   It seems that everything I study to share with you on this blog is so timely.  This is no different.  We had suspended our study of the Names of God but I have been able to study a bit more about His wonderful Names.  I was surely blessed by this Name.  I pray you will be, too.

   This Name is only found in one place in the Holy Bible:   Judges 6: 12 - 24.  This is the story about Gideon.  Oh, this story has to be my favorite story in the Old Testament.  There is young Gideon, trying to hide from the Midianites while he tries to separate the chaff from the wheat in a winepress.  He and his family were hungry.  the Midianites had destroyed their farms and taken their livestock.  The Israelites were being conquered by the same people their God had promised to give victory over.  Why was that? 

  The answer is that we often find ourselves in difficult situations when we worship other gods.  "But we go to church on Sunday."  The truth is that not everyone in this country who is able,  attends church regularly.  Of those who do, only 3 - 7 % of them trust God in their finances(in tithes).  We have chosen worldliness to Godliness.  We are no longer set apart from the current culture.  We have forsaken our "First Love" without even thinking about it.  We worship money, prestige, fame, comfort, relationships, ourselves, anything that supersedes God's demands and His dictates.

   While the news media tell us we have a political problem, a racial problem, a drug problem, etc. 

photo courtesy of 2 cool 2 b true

I tell you we have a spiritual problem resulting from our departure from God!  Gideon asked the Angel of God (paraphrased), "If God is for us, where is He?  If He is going to take care of us, why has_____________ happened?  He has surely abandoned us!"  

   God's response was this (again paraphrased):  "I have heard your cries for help.  You have acknowledged your sin.  So, Gideon, I send you to take victory over the Midianites (any of your problems) and I will be with you."  After Gideon realized he really had been talking with the Angel of The Lord, he said,  Alas, O Lord God!  For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face."  But God said, "Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die."  Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it "The LORD is Peace (Jehovah Shalom).

   There is a commercial on the television about a home warranty where a lady is at her kitchen sink and the faucet pops off and water gushes out all over her kitchen.  The lady says she is having a great day.  She is not concerned because she believes her warranty will cover the repairs.  Let me ask you:  don't you want to rest assured that God will carry you through every trial and tribulation you face and give you victory?  That is peace!  No anxiety, no worry, no sleepless nights, just peace!  When you are obedient to Him, that is just what you receive in return!  He is big enough to slay your dragons, for sure.

   Peace means "wholeness, completeness, or well-being".  It is "harmony and balance".  Being at peace means that even though the world is upside down, you are at rest in your soul.  Here are some verses to help:

   "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage:  I have overcome the world.  (John 16:33)

   "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 soul."  (Matthew 11: 28, 29)

   Like Gideon, the way to possess peace is to understand that God is with us.  Know His Word.  Drink it in like cool water to a parched throat.  Make time for our Holy Father.  Stand firmly in faith.  Lean on Him.  Stop worshiping the worldly gods.  Return to your First Love (God).

   If you don't have a relationship with the Creator of Everything, you can change that by clicking here:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

   As always, please pray for God to use our efforts to bring understanding to those who are earnestly seeking Him.  We would love to hear from you, so please leave us a comment.  We know you are with us, but it is special when we read your comments.  Please indicate if you do not want them published.

   Also, if this post is a blessing to you, please share it on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.

WHEN I DIE

WHEN I DIE

   As we go from the funeral, what are we to think?   I have been asked by family and friends this one question, "Was he saved?", "Was she saved?"  After life, there is only one comfort for those who are left behind:  the hope that we will see them again. 

   We teach our children their bedtime prayer: 

"Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take.

If I should live for other days,

I pray Thee, Lord, to guide my ways."

When my Grandson started asking questions about this "dying business", I decided it was time to post answers, since others may also have questions about dying, souls, spirits, etc.

   As a Christian, my hope is in The Lord.  Mine is a Living God with Whom I have a relationship.  He is my Heavenly Father per Jesus Christ, and I am a child of God.  When Jesus taught us to pray, He said to pray this way:  "Our Father, Which art in Heaven......."  So, in my heart, I can climb upon His lap, He can put His arms around me, and I can talk with Him about anything.  He is powerful enough to take care of all my concerns.  And He smiles when I just climb up on His lap and tell Him how happy I am that He is mine and when I thank Him for taking care of me.

   Let's get to a few Holy Bible verses which support my beliefs:

1) People are made in the "likeness" of God and have a soul:  And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  Genesis 2:7.

2) Death in the Holy Bible does not mean complete annihilation of a person's being.  It is simply a change of address to the spiritual realm.  As Jesus was dying on the cross, He told a thief on another cross that he would be with Him in Paradise that same day!  So, when New Testament Believers die, they are transported straight to Heaven.  Luke 23: 39 - 43

   In the Old Testament (before Christ), they went to a holding place called Paradise, Hades, or Sheol.  Different names for the same place.  We see it in Luke 16 as Jesus was speaking:

2 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

   So, we see that even though this earthly body dies, our "being" does not.  We will live forever.  The question posed to you today is this:  where will you be for eternity:  heaven or hell?  Without a personal relationship with God, you will spend eternity in hell, tormented, separated from the One Who created you.  You were made for His good pleasure.  

   It is my goal to introduce you to my Heavenly Father that you may live forever in Paradise!  He has prepared a place for you.  All you have to do is accept it.  To learn more, please click here:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray for us that God will use our efforts for His good pleasure.  

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