Tag Archives: Christ

Christian Living, Guests, Soul Detox

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Day 26 of 35 — Soul Detox

1 Thessalonians 5:21-28

Psalms 24:1-6

Devotional

How do you deal with cultural toxins when you encounter them? You test them by asking these questions: 1.) Am I being entertained by sin? 2.) Is this pleasing to God? and 3.) Does this lure me away from Christ?

What are some things you can do to completely remove cultural toxins from your life?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

3 Who may go up to the mountain of Adonai?

Who can stand in his holy place?

4 Those with clean hands and pure hearts,

who don’t make vanities the purpose of their lives

or swear oaths just to deceive.

via 1 Thessalonians 5:21-28; Psalms 24:1-6 CJB;NASB – But do test everything — hold onto – Bible Gateway.

Clean hands
Pure hearts
Humble purposes with
Honest Promises

There is no room for cultural toxins in our lives when the foregoing is practiced.  What a gloriously joyous life we would experience. So what is stopping us? 

You might also check in with SHE READS TRUTH

Christian Living, Guests

Extra

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Something extra for today from You Version Devotionals. When I read this one this morning I became eager to share it with you.

Galatians 4:4-5

Devotional

ROMAN ROADS AND A GREEK BIBLE

Nehemiah appears to have outlived Malachi. Thus, when Nehemiah died at nearly seventy years of age, the last chapter closed on the Old Testament. Four hundred years of silence followed, to be broken by the preaching of John the Baptist. Between the last chapter of Malachi and Matthew 1, dramatic world events occurred. The seat of government passed from Asia to Europe. During this time, Palestine experienced six different systems of rule. When Jesus was born, the Roman-appointed Herods were coldly and cruelly terrorizing Israel.

After Nehemiah’s death, Persia fell to Alexander the Great, and then came the Egyptian Ptolemies. Later, the Syrian kings crushed the Jews, bringing about the bloody revolt of the Maccabees. Finally, the iron hand of Rome gripped the throat of war-weary Palestine. Never at the mercy of world powers, God used each government to prepare the world for Christ’s birth. In the fullness of time, Christ was born. Greek influence had brought about the first translation of the Old Testament which was used by Jesus in the synagogue. Then Rome, with her penchant for building roads, made the spreading of the Gospel possible for the early church. The most famous of these highways is still used–the Appian Way. Over its 350 miles, Paul traveled to spread the Gospel.

Into a waiting world, Christ came–and changed the course of human history. Prophets had preached that the Messiah would come, and He was not a day late. To fulfill prophecy, Christ could have appeared at no other time in history. From all this, we learn that believers are never at the mercy of the world. God is still in control, and His answer to our prayers is not a day late.

via Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with God | YouVersion.com.

Read that last paragraph again and even again; enough that it makes your eyes twinkle with expectation and a glowing confidence that GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!

A surpassing Thursday, my Friends!

Christian Living, Discipline of children, Guests

World Changing

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My You Version devotions have been excellent in addressing family dynamics. Today’s is no less worthy of bringing to you here at The White Stone.

DISCIPLINE

Every child is a bundle of raw emotions and energies. The role of the parent is to help the child control himself so that these emotions and energies are not destructive but constructive. Discipline is simply teaching a child to control himself.

There is a vast difference between punishment and discipline. Punishment is getting even. Discipline is inflicting a smaller amount of pain on a person than he would receive if he were permitted to go on unchecked in his action. For example, if your small child reaches out to touch a hot stove, you grab his hand and slap it sharply. You have inflicted pain on the child, but the pain is far less than what he would receive if he were permitted to go ahead and touch the stove. That is discipline.

God disciplines His children, but He does not punish them. Punishment occurs when a person wants to hurt someone as badly as he has been hurt. But God’s Word clearly says: If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12: 7-11).

via Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with God | YouVersion.com.

Discipline is simply teaching a child to control himself.

Punishment is getting even.

Oh, that parents EVERYWHERE would control themselves and heed these holy instructions!

And would it not be glorious if all Father’s children would get it through our heads and drop it down into our hearts that our GOD does NOT PUNISH us – His children? GETTING EVEN with us is NEVER what Father does. His discipline, anything and everything He allows to come upon His born-again ones are to teach us to yield to His Spirit so we will have the power to control our own flesh, emotions, and our very souls. And would it not be world-changing if human parents would imitate GOD, especially when DISCIPLINING their children?

Blessings of Joy and Peace,

Blessings of peace and honor, joy and glorifying our great and Holy King be upon you all this very day.  Father may it be that all we Your Born Again Ones will imitate You today for JESUS’ sake.  

Celebrations, Christmas, Guests

Close Enough!

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I do not know who is the Author of this piece but I cannot imagine myself not sharing it with you. I cried and at the end clapped my hands in praise saying Yes, You are! Yes, You are!!

twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
…

their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“this is heaven.” declared a small boy. “we’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!”
“may this country be delivered from the hands of fools”
“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“come now my children, let me show you around.”
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”
Perhaps the scene last Friday morning in Heaven did not go exactly as depicted here but this description is close enough for me to give me great, great comfort!! Close enough for me to see my Holy Savior and give Him praise, worship and adoration!!!
 

Oh, ABBA, thank You, thank You in JESUS HOLY AND ETERNAL NAME! To HIM be glory forever and ever!!

Blessings of Joy and Peace,