Exulting in the Cross

Thanks for sharing. :) ((hugs!))

2012-05-04T10:07:52.917-04:00

Thanks for sharing. :) ((hugs!))

Very interesting thoughts. I think that conversati...

2012-04-14T22:14:58.907-04:00

Very interesting thoughts. I think that conversation between Jesus and Peter has become a favourite passage of mine.

Yes yes. Quite quite. I remember those days, non...

2012-04-03T23:33:23.762-04:00

Yes yes. Quite quite. I remember those days, none too fondly because at any moment a spider or bee could land on me so that made the work a bit more stressful. Muscle memory isn't a myth though....shoveling poop gives biceps the best form, and it doesn't take long for arms to remember the work out!

Yay for a clean pen! :D

2012-04-03T00:54:27.131-04:00

Yay for a clean pen! :D

I am so looking forward to when he rescues me from...

2012-04-02T09:16:46.383-04:00

I am so looking forward to when he rescues me from this Earth, but while I am here I must serve Him. Thankful that if I do get lazy The Holy Spirit is swift to correct me!

Amen...

2012-04-02T01:52:30.590-04:00

Amen...

Yay for food that's not chicken! :D

2012-03-10T00:03:44.612-05:00

Yay for food that's not chicken! :D

Praise the Lord indeed!!! :D

2012-03-09T13:41:52.918-05:00

Praise the Lord indeed!!! :D

Our bodies suck....another beautiful reminder that...

2012-03-07T11:36:24.989-05:00

Our bodies suck....another beautiful reminder that we don't belong here. Sorry about your constant pain, I pray He provides you with the means to at least fix your teeth.

Love you.

I remember every moment, except holding buggy eyed...

2012-03-05T22:32:07.469-05:00

I remember every moment, except holding buggy eyed Matt. He grew on me though....had to name one of my babies after him. ;-) Memories, even the bad ones, remind us what truly matters. I love you Mom.

You should do this every week. :)

2012-03-01T22:10:14.448-05:00

You should do this every week. :)

Ps 27:4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, ...

2012-02-27T17:34:12.742-05:00

Ps 27:4 One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.

I talked this over with you the other day, but I r...

2012-02-27T12:58:18.878-05:00

I talked this over with you the other day, but I read this again and had some comments/musings/blatherings to give. First, I do think that the more we uphold Christ, the less we will dissolve into bitter dissension and petty arguments. Yet some arguments and disagreements might remain, but these will stem from a proper place - that is, upholding Christ means upholding truth and love, so the more we uphold Christ the more we uphold truth - in love! :)

I really believe that truth without love is no truth at all. You might say the right words, but to speak God's truth with vindictiveness or judgment or any kind of spite makes it something other than what it is meant to be. God Incarnate spoke the truth, and prostitutes, publicans, sinners and fools flocked to Him because they felt His love resonate. They felt His enoughness, and knew that they didn't have to do any measuring up to the perfection He required, and I think we're supposed to emulate that when it comes to one another, at least to some extent. Truth and love always have to go together. I was reading through a sermon today going through Ephesians, and the emphasis was on the verses in chapter 4 speaking of walking worthy. Some characteristics of worthiness are humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another. It also reminds me of where Paul writes about kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. I think these ought always to be kept in mind and applied in any truth-telling, or any situation, ever, always.

Mike, the Word tells us to be patient. Love is pa...

2012-02-20T10:43:04.816-05:00

Mike, the Word tells us to be patient.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant -1 Corinthians 13:4

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.1 Thessalonians 5:14

The reason I quoted 1 Thessalonians at the end of the post was that we are to change our method of counsel according to the need of the person we are counselling. Yes, we are to admonish the idle. And yes, we are to encourage the fainthearted, timid person. And yes, we are to help the weak... but all the while, we are to be patient with them as they learn and grow and change. God is in the business of changing people, and He uses others as instruments of grace in their lives.

I don't know what you mean about someone trying to muzzle the words they don't want to hear. I can assume, but as you know, that's not a wise thing to do.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecclesiastes 7:8

I do not agree with the last line, be patient with...

2012-02-20T10:06:00.747-05:00

I do not agree with the last line, be patient with everyone. Was Jesus patient with the money changers in the temple, or the Pharisees?

I agree, when we counsel one another often we fail. Sometimes pride gets the better of us, but that doesn't mean we should be silent.

If the motives are to counsel another then gently coming along side and relating to that person on a shared personal level is ideal. Carson does a good job of showing how we must lovingly counsel.

If the object is to refute or stop the biblical nonsense then a gentle and kind approach does not always work. Jesus was gentle with the apostles he was counseling, yet harsh with the pharisees he was rebuking.

I like the sign Rachel posted the other day on Facebook, I am responsible for what I say, not what you understand. If you read someone's blog and get all bent out of shape, and start a heated dialogue, is the original author the contentious one? It would appear as though those who comment are trying to muzzle the words they don't want to hear.

Carson makes a great point about being a comforter. I think you did a good job in bringing out the essence of what Carson was expressing. Unfortunately we do not always comfort, nor are we called to always comfort.

Exactly. Our human sin nature is SO sneaky. We ca...

2012-02-19T12:11:17.678-05:00

Exactly. Our human sin nature is SO sneaky. We can convince ourselves we are following God, when in all actuality we are worshiping ourselves. So many people get caught up in the ""Speak the Truth" line, when in all actuality they are motivated by pride; wanting to show off their knowledge, to prove THEY are right and everyone else is wrong. To tear others down and build themselves up.

Jesus spoke the Truth. Kindly. Gently. Lovingly. Full of Grace, and understanding.

And that's what we should do.

Excellent post.

Carson's pretty smart, eh? ;p

I'm glad you popped by, Kim.

2012-02-13T18:42:05.122-05:00

I'm glad you popped by, Kim.

Ah, you've hit upon my favourite book in scrip...

2012-02-13T18:30:39.890-05:00

Ah, you've hit upon my favourite book in scripture. I could read James over and over for all the comfort it provides!
(I still don't have internet at home...I'm just visiting on a friend's computer)

I love this story. :-) So many lessons. Thanks f...

2012-01-29T21:44:51.062-05:00

I love this story. :-) So many lessons. Thanks for sharing.

The way Christ Jesus lovingly dispenses His gifts ...

2012-01-22T22:29:21.411-05:00

The way Christ Jesus lovingly dispenses His gifts and ministers to His people is by way of Gods design. Comforting.

Hi, Gracez. Glad you stopped by.

2012-01-21T10:15:57.870-05:00

Hi, Gracez. Glad you stopped by.

gracez see tine 2:59 wow I was sleeping its 6am ...

2012-01-21T06:06:19.996-05:00

gracez see tine 2:59 wow I was sleeping its 6am here in the east, hop you don't have a phone that beeps with messages at 2:59 am one time Gail pending member for Patriach wives; God Bless

cast?Ive been blessed with the ability to trip acr...

2012-01-21T05:59:49.298-05:00

cast?Ive been blessed with the ability to trip across the room (a few time) and Ive never was blessed with a cast, hope it heels well, remember my brother had one and the excercises to strengethen and limber up his arm when the cast came off, don't know if this message will go through with my netbook, have 3 virus programs becase was sharing a computer with my son and it was infected and Im just being sure til I can afford a new computer of my own and a great? any suggestions virus program, Hi this is Gail for short Gailena for long, Gail on the River my business Im buiding with hand stitched heirlooms, Im a Born Again Christian, the greatest gift The Lord has given me; and hopefull will be a Patriach Wife if approved, the email said to read the links, and all the links were /are wonderful Spirit filled Ladies

:D

2012-01-16T12:14:02.146-05:00

I found this blog very interesting. Praise God th...

2012-01-16T10:12:18.133-05:00

I found this blog very interesting. Praise God that He does it all, that He has extended Grace to us. I so agree with the statement EVEN OUR GOOD THINGS are tainted.

In some of our recent studies we have been looking at the fullness of Total Depravity. Everything, not most things, is depraved. Even our righteousness is as filthy rags. Does this make people uncomfortable? Good, that means the Holy Spirit is working. Should we create a lie like good things done in marriage are holy, just to balance the uneasy feelings, or do we examine our lives and turn to the truth, the Holy Bible.

This blogs offers a lot of truth which we need to think about, meditate on, and square with scripture. This is the application exercise we should do with every though and morsel of knowledge.