Freely Forgive

The amplified bible reads in Colossians 3:13, "as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must also [forgive]." 

Forgiveness is a free gift from God.  This is what Jesus was sent here to do, die on the cross so our sins can be forgiven.  Because our sins are forgiven, we can live in heaven with Him forever. 

Even though God freely forgives sins, we must do two things.  One is we must forgive others.  Jesus tells a parable of the unforgiving servant.  That parable is in Matthew 18:23-35, if you want to read it.  At the end of it Jesus said, "So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses",  (Matthew 18:35 amplified version).

In a nut shell, the parable is about a man who owed a lot of money to the king.  When he couldn't pay, the he begged for forgiveness and the king forgave the debt.  Later that day, the man had another man who owed him a few dollars (in today's terms) and when this new man begged forgiveness, the other man (the one who the king forgave) didn't forgive him.   When the king found out what happened, he imprisoned the man who owed him money until he could repay his debt. 

We are to freely forgive others as Jesus has forgiven us.  The other thing we need to do is to ask for the forgiveness.

If someone does something wrong to you, forgive them.  Freely forgive them, from your heart.  In the NIV version, Ephesians 4:26 reads, "do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."  Many times that may be hard, but we need to do it.

Put yourself in this situation.  If you did something wrong to someone, wouldn't you want them to forgive you?

Good

In the King James Version, Romans 12:9 reads, "Abhor what is evil; cleave to that which is good."  The amplified version reads the same verse, "hate what is evil [loath all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good."

If we are going to be fishers of men, we need to do just that.  We need to hate/abhor evil (thoughts, desires, actions, suggestions, attitudes, etc.).  We must 'loath all ungodliness.'  In other words, if it is evil, you should want nothing to do with it.  Look at your life, hold on to a good attitude, good thoughts, actions (such as helping others), desires, etc. 

Does this mean we are to be perfect?  We are human, that isn't possible.  We do need to do our best.  We need to ask God for help, and when we slip we need to ask for forgiveness.  That is why God sent Jesus in the first place, so we could be forgiven.  If it wasn't for Jesus coming, we would all be doomed.  If God didn't love us, why would be have sent His only begotten Son to go through all that Jesus went through.

Stand Firm, Stand Tall

Jesus said in Matthew 24:13, "but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Before saying that, Jesus is talking about wickedness and many people's love will grow cold.  This entire section is in the NIV, headed as, "Signs of the End of the Age."

We need to love one another without setting conditions.  Romans 12:9 reads in the King James, "let love be without dissimulation."  The amplified version reads it this way, "[let your] love be sincere (a real thing)."  We, a fishers of men need to stand firm until the end.  Stand firm in your love for one another.  Make sure your love is a real thing! Let's pray this together.

Dear Father I pray in the name of Jesus, Thank You for loving me everyday no matter what.  Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to love one another.  Help my love to be sincere towards one another.  Thank you Jesus!  Your will be done Father, In Jesus' Name I pray, amen.

Remember to stand firm in love of one another until the end.

God's Gift to Us

The following is from Luke 2 in the NIV version:

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to

Mary Told of Jesus's Birth

Luke 1:26-38 reads, 'In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.'

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.'

'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'

The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 'For nothing is impossible with God.'

'I am the Lord’s servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her." (These verses were copied from bible.cc)


I know that was a lot today, so we will break this up.  In the beginning of these verses, Gabriel tells the Virgin Mary she will be the mother of Jesus.  This is the same angel who spoke to Zachariah about John the Baptist.

Gabriel tells the Virgin Mary she will be the mother of Jesus.  Before Gabriel came to her she had absolutely no idea, to my knowledge, she would give birth to God's only begotten Son.

This would be a miracle because, well, because birth is a miracle in itself.  Besides that, she was a virgin.  How can a virgin give birth?  Mary had faith.  She believed.  The angel Gabriel even said, "for with God nothing shall be impossible." (Luke 1:37) 

Once he said that, Mary basically said, let what you say come true.

Giving this Year

Many people have had a rough year.  In Florida alone there are over 1 million people that are out of work.  I became one of those back in February.  God has provided me with temporary work here and there and has provided me with plenty this year.

As Christmas rolls around this year, everyone's wallets tend to take a hit, because remember Christmas rolls around only once a year.  There is no need to compete with others this year; only buy what you can afford.  It is the thought that counts.

When you are giving, take time to give Jesus a little extra this year.  The bible says, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  I suggest giving a little more financially this Christmas or give more time.  Invite someone to your home who will be alone on Christmas. Even if you are alone, invite someone because when they come, then you won't be alone.

Read Luke 2:1-20 Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day with whomever you share Christmas with.  Even if it is just Jesus.  Have a Merry Christmas.

I say Merry Christmas

Popular thing to say in the recent years is "happy holidays."  This is so we don't offend people.  Bologna! Garbage! When we don't say Merry Christmas I feel it is us offending God.

I want to celebrate Jesus' birth, not some mid-winter celebration.  I would rather offend men than God.  When someone says 'happy holidays' reply 'Merry Christmas' to them.  If they are Jewish, with them Happy Hanukkah.  Jewish people are God's people so there is nothing wrong with Merry Christmas of Happy Hanukkah, but NEVER participate in taking Christ out of Christmas by saying happy holidays.  Remember that Christ is in Christmas.  Celebrate Jesus' birth this year.

Away

Sorry I have been having tech problems.  Will be back within a few days.

The Rapture

What many of us refer to as 'The Rapture' can be found in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 which reads, in the Orthodox Study Bible, "behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet..."
It will happen in a moment. Are you ready?
I know I am. I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life, I made Him my Lord and Savior, I repented of my sins, and I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and your sins to be forgiven and that He rose on the third day. Thank You Jesus! Glory to Your Name! If you want to become saved and have eternal life in Heaven with Jesus please pray the below prayer out loud and with your heart.
Dear Father I pray in the Name of Jesus, please come into my life. Forgive me of all my sins. I believe that You are the Son of God and You died on the cross and rose from the dead to make a way for me. Thank you for loving me enough to die for me on the cross so my sins can be forgiven. I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Please come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. I love you. Thank you Jesus! In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.

Were Adam and Eve Alone on Earth?

I do not believe so after reading Genesis 1 and Genesis 4.  In Genesis 1, God made man.  Genesis 4:16-17 reads, "and Cain went out from the presense of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.  And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch..."

To this point, Adam and Eve only had Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-2).  Genesis 4:25 reads, "and Adam knew his wife again; and she bare...Seth:  'for God,' said she, 'hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.'"  This verse implies that there were probably none between Abel and Seth.

Genesis 3:3-4 reads, "and Adam lives... and begat a son in his own likeness... and called his name Seth:  And the days of Adam after he begat Seth were 800 years and he begat sons and daughters.

I feel that God opened my eyes to see through all these verses that there were more than just Adam and Eve on earth.  Adam was who God breathed the breath of life into.  How could Cain leave his parents and get married at the time he did if Adam and his wife hadn't born any daughters?  There must have been others around.

Obey Jesus

Jesus said in Luke 6:46, "and why do you ye call me, Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?"

Since we believe that Jesus is Lord, why don't we obey everything He says?  Doesn't make any sense not to.  When God shows you something or gives you a command, do it!  He knows what's best for us.  He is King of kings and Lord of lords.  We need to give Him praise every day of our lives.