Category Archives: Christian Living

1 Peter, 2023, Christian Living, Daniel, Proverbs, Questions, You Tubes

Nebuchadnezzar(s)

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Worship.

We talk about it. We go to places of worship as we call them. We sing songs of worship, as we call them. I wonder does GOD call it worship? Do you ever wonder that too? 

But are we worshipping The One True God? And how can we know if we are or are not? 

What is worship anyway? 

All good questions. Can we answer them here? I don’t know, but we can seek answers here for sure. 

Daniel 3

Are you familiar with the story of Nebuchadnezzar, his statute, and his demand of the people in the plain of Dura? If you are not I hope you will use the link above and read Chapter 3 of the Book of Daniel.

There were three (3) Hebrews in the province of Babylon named, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Those were their Babylonian names. Their Hebrew names were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, respectively.  (If you are interested in a little more about their names, click HERE.)

So what was going on in Babylon? 
Nebuchadnezzar. Poor guy. He was so messed up but GOD loved him -and he was not even a Jew. Chapters 1 through 4 of Daniel tell the story of Nebuchadnezzar. I am thinking he finally got it right and I am thinking we might get to meet him in Heaven. I am hoping so. 

But I’m off point. 

In Chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar is so full of himself, that he had a statute of himself erected and he demanded to be WORSHIPPED. 

That set me off on this trail. 

Nebuchadnezzar, in my humble opinion, was set on controlling the people. And that meant obedience. I mean you can’t control the people, unless they obey you. Can you? 

It seems to me man is never satisfied as long as he wants to control other men (please understand this includes women too – as all mankind). There’s just something about people that causes them to want to control other people. And it causes so many problems. But I’m slightly off-point. 

Worship. 
We can attend a song service, sing every song, raise our hands, and jump a pew, but if we are not yielded to consistently, daily, obeying GOD, we are not worshipping Him. Instead, we just may be worshipping the traditions of men. 

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah understood obedience. They understood that bowing down before that statute was an affront to The One and Only Holy Holy Holy GOD.  And they refused to do it. 

Worship.  I made a note in the margin of my Bible. 

True worship is yielding to the CONTROL of GOD. 

Am I yielded to being controlled by GOD?
Daily, consistently?

Am  I ever growing more and more obedient to Him?
Am I more and more obeying what I read in the Bible, practicing the commands and precepts found there?
Practicing them in my home? Practicing them in public?

More and more times are coming to afford us opportunities to choose to worship (obey) GOD or the traditions of men.

Today we can examine ourselves and we can pray, for ourselves and each other. Not a one of us is exempt from the distractions, snares, strategies, and traditions set in place by the evil one. Let us guard our hearts and all our senses so that we will grow more and more obedient and thereby worship our GOD with every breath.  1 Peter 5:7-9, Proverbs 4:22-24

It’s not the music. It’s not the song. It’s not the sermon. It’s not the place. It’s OBEDIENCE.

Nebuchadnezzar wanted to control the people, he lusted for worship. And from the majority, he got it. There are many Nebuchadnezzars in our world, sometimes they are people, sometimes, just things. 

WORSHIP GOD.
Only HE is worthy.
HE is the ONLY safe One to worship.
The only safe one to unconditionally obey. 

Until next time ~~~ Shalom, Kathie 

2023, Christian Living, Romans

Not For Everyone

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I was a little short on time this morning to get out of the house to make my way to the office so I could not prepare a posting. Perhaps this afternoon it will be just as good.

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

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Until Next Time ~~ Shalom, Kathie 

2 Thessalonians, 2023, Christian Living

No Worries

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Hello and Good Evening,

It’s been a while. There have been some twists and turns since last I sat to write on this screen — good ones, no worries, so I am here tonight to check in with a few words.

2 Thessalonians 1.
What a great chapter.
I hope you will read it. Either in your favorite paper and ink Bible or click the link above and choose from one of the versions there to read.
For the comments I am prepared to make below, I read the English Standard Version but, of course, my favorite remains the Complete Jewish Bible.
Do you have a favorite translation? I hope so.photo-1536704231234-beca9772ca68

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.  source 

What an amazing, wonderful chapter to read!
And look at this!
Their faith was growing abundantly!
Their love for one another was increasing!
And when was this happening?
When they were persecuted and enduring afflictions!

What does that say to you? I hope you will pray and ponder these verses.ponder

Until Next Time ~~~ Shalom, Kathie

2023, Christian Living, For What It's Worth To You, Gospel of Matthew, It's a Bonus Post, Questions

Come Along

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Matthew 28 18 Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”   source 

First thing I noticed this time reading these verses. 

immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, 

Other translations say: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  And I don’t dispute that. Baptism after conversion is a command, unless, of course, you are the thief on the cross or some other reason beyond your control. But baptism is more than being lowered under a body of water and brought up again and I believe JESUS was saying more than we are generally taught here. 

Let us remember from the verses that He said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. And does not ALL mean all? All authority is given to Him. We will come back to this.

Hang with me.

What are we commanded to do in this passage? immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh,
Just what does this mean? What is immersing?

im·merse

  (ĭ-mûrs′)
tr.v. im·mersed, im·mers·ing, im·mers·es
1. To cover completely in a liquid; submerge.
2. To baptize by submerging in water.
3. To engage wholly or deeply; absorb:
 
For purposes here let’s take number 3. 
To engage wholly or deeply; absorb. This I believe describes what we are to do. 
All people. All Nations. Anyone who will believe and come along we are to aid in engaging them wholly, deeply; so they can absorb the ways of GOD. 
We introduce them to JESUS and then we keep on with them, discipling them,  or making sure there is someone else to come alongside them to teach them the Ways of GOD. 
And what do we teach them?
We teach them to OBEY GOD per the Scriptures. 
 
NOTHING IN THIS LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OBEYING GOD.
 
Let’s go back now. 
 
All Authority in heaven and on earth is given to JESUS.
This is BIG, Y’all! 
JESUS has all authority! All authority! 
 
And some may say, so. What does that mean for me? 
The best news ever!
It means as we are immersed in GOD, we are taught the ways of GOD and we obey Him we too have authority. We have the authority and the power to forsake and overcome SIN. 
 
We do NOT have to live defeated lives. 
We can and must be overcomers. 
When we are immersed in GOD all power and authority that we need to command the flesh and the enemy, we have. We CAN live victoriously. news-clipart-k11232926We do not have to be slaves to sin anymore! 

Now why would we not want to proclaim this to people everywhere? 

It’s Good News! The Best News! 
 

Until next time — Shalom, Kathie