Monthly Archives: December 2017

1 Timothy

Riding Again

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What’s most frustrating about prayer to you? 

Some of these thought trains I ride wouldn’t reveal so much if I kept the ride to myself but, alas, I often don’t. 😊

Like this morning’s. The most frustrating for me is no, not the waiting so much, unless the waiting is ascribed to waiting for the people I am praying for to actually cooperate with GOD so He can give them a happier life. 

It frustrates me and if I am not really careful will tick me off at them for being so  — well, something. . .  like stubborn to  keep on doing what does not work and getting the same hurtful results year after year. 

I’ll just be blunt sin makes us stupid and unhappy! 

1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV) 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.  source

Know what I mean? 

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Gospel of Mark

Middle Tense

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Have y’all heard that (I guess for lack of better word in this moment) doctrine that says salvation is a three tense process? 

I am saved from the penalty of sin at rebirth
I am being saved from the practice of sin today
I will yet be saved from the presence of sin in heaven

Matthew 6: 32 For the pagans eagerly pursue all these things; yet your Father in heaven knows that you need all these. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  source

Thirty two is the verse that started this! 

I read this and said to me: pagans EAGERLY pursue food, drink, clothes (oh yes and houses and cars too); what do Christians EAGERLY pursue? 

What do Christians EAGERLY pursue?
Is it not true we need food, drink, clothes (some of us need more fabric in those clothes – but I digress), shelter and transportation? 
For sure we do! So how do we live these verses?
May I suggest we are assured in these verses if we EAGERLY pursue JESUS first while working for food, drink, clothing, shelter, transportation that HE will make sure we have all these things?! 

And then I asked: What is GOD’s Kingdom? Click HERE for a very good answer. 

If I do less than eagerly seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness am I not acting like an unbeliever, a pagan even? 

Back to the beginning. 
I’m saved from the penalty of sin. I’m being saved from the practice of sin. I shall yet be saved from the presence of sin. 

And my conclusion is this: There is only one reason why I would not eagerly seek His Kingdom – unbelief.  Am I a practice-er of unbelief? 

Are you like me? Like very grateful?!

I have been saved from the penalty of unbelief.
I am in the process of being saved from the PRACTICE of unbelief.
I will yet be saved from the presence (and consequences) of unbelief. 

I read it decades ago, I can see the page yet in my mind, I have long-lost the page but this I remember: Blaise Pascal was given the credit for having said (my paraphrase) Any portion of the Bible that I say I believe but I have yet been moved to obey it, I can rest assured I do not truly believe it. 

Mark 9:24 (TLV) 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” source

Chazaq! 

1 John, Gospel of Matthew

Lets Be Mature About This

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Matthew 8:(TLV) 26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became totally calm. source

Reading this verse gave me questions. What are you afraid of? And why are you afraid? 
I think I shall make a list of the things I am afraid of.  I fear :) how long the list will be! 

1 John 4:18  (KJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. source

And I say but in this mortal life I shall never be perfect and that is true but this perfect does not mean the perfect we so often conceive.
It means mature.
So as I grow up in love I will be less and less afraid. When I mature in the love I have for JESUS and mature in believing He loves me, I will be less and less afraid. That’s comforting! It’s doable too!

Chazaq!