Tag: Bible

How to Break the Cycle of Revenge

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How to Break the Cycle of Revenge

Middle-ages

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ surely you must know how destructive a cycle of revenge  is: The Bible is clear about that and so is the message Jesus gave on how to avoid or stop this human violent characteristic.

Romans 12:19 ESV 

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”what Jesus said about violence

Revenge

I am not referring to self defense for even the Disciples carried swords. The sense here is forgive an offense and set it aside – or forget it.      

How Destructive is this Violent Cycle?

Affects all Involved

Look to history, yet, wars of annihilation and genocide are still taking place even now. Tribes, nations, countries, races, religions  even families. Feuds, revolutions, terrorism and hate fuel these cycles. Jesus taught a better way:

Matthew 5:38-39 ESV 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

SONG: Kevin Levar – A Heart That Forgives

End Result

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How Many gods do Humans Worship

Humans Worship and have Worshiped many gods

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We Christians Worship One GOD

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV 

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Trinity

We believe in one GOD  three persons: Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. That should not be too great a mystery since GOD created us in GOD’S likeness – we are flesh, mind and soul are we not? Many of my Christian Brothers and Sisters may say I am over simplifying the Trinity with that metaphor yet, it gives those of us who are less philosophical something to help us to understand (akin to a triangle, water-ice-vapor, a three leaf clover, egg shell-egg white-egg yolk and on to ever more complex illustrations).

Matthew 28:19 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Water

 

Consider this: GOD comes to and came to us. We can do nothing except believe, trust Jesus and worship.

All we need to know is contained in the Bible. Old Covenant and New Covenant.

Love of God

All we need to do is accept The Grace of GOD offered by the Perfect Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and allow The Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. We do good because we then know what good is and appreciate that because of Jesus we will experience the GOD’S Mercy for eternity. We want to worship out of gratitude and share the Good News with all people.

Romans 6:23 ESV 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Worshiping God



SONG: Mighty To Save: Hillsong United

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR8rlTIU8_Y  

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Does Life Make Sense

Does Life Make Sense​

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To and Fro

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Wondering

Having lived a long life I have learned that much of which I thought I knew was in error or limited by ignorance on my part. It seems that lately I find myself murmuring, “I never knew that”.  Sometimes I simply recognize that I have changed my perspective and that has altered my thoughts. So many things seem to flip-flop as well: eggs are not good for you . . . eggs are good for you; aspirin is good now its bad and so on. Humans know all about “blank” no wait that is all wrong it is “blank”. Take comfort in knowing:

Hebrews 13:8 ESV 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Everlasting

 

Humans Have A Special Relationship with GOD and Creation

Genesis 1:26 ESV 

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Dominion is responsible and compassionate stewardship not greedy exploitation: Read the Bible

Read This

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Seek GOD’S way and trust GOD for guidance.

A Family

Psalm 150:6 ESV

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

SONG: Spensha Baker – Purpose

https://youtu.be/GPoifL9Pbl0

BONUS SONG: My new Video “Dangerous Days” (song from my newest album).

https://youtu.be/SA_nnFmGwNM

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The Way to GOD

The Way to GOD? Jesus Christ

Bridge over Sins

Merry Christmas, His gift to us is sins forgiven and an eternity in Heaven. 

 

 

 

Through the Cross



 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Where are you going Christian?

Where are You Going

Where are you going Christian?

Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Ten-commandments



What are you doing Christian?

Colossians 3:17 ESV 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Honesty

Why are you doing that Christian?

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Map and Compass

Where are You Going  It has been my experience that most people do not like to be questioned. Calling into question what we are all about and what we think we hope to ​_achieve can be an uncomfortable experience. A few

Signs

seem to “have it all together” at least upon superficial examination Audio Sermons too Learn by:
​_https://www.calvaryleh.org/audio-sermons​_ but, if pressed they may be like many of us living a life left to hoped for capricious serendipity maybe, capricious zemblanity or calamity. As Christians our fate is secure in Christ and our life style should be serving GOD as we learn more about GOD and become more like Jesus.

SONG:  Micah Tyler – Directions – (with lyrics) (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZHmUS-5V-4

Helping Hand



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No Perfection Found on Earth

 
Happy Place

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If you seek perfection on Earth it’s going to take awhile . . .

. . . . and aside from driving you crazy and disappointed you will have missed many good things and wasted too much of your time.

Happiness

Being content does not mean everything is perfect “out there”  but it means that despite that imperfection everything can be bearable (perhaps a bit better than that) “inside of us”.

Contentment

 

_Philippians 4:11-12 ESV

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,abundance and need.​_

Content with Life

Do Not Waste Your Like Seeking the Unattainable

Luke 12:15 ESV 

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Calm



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SONG: Contentment (Live) Candy West

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfD4pSFXq7E

 

 

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And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

GOD Does not Need Things

The Universe

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GOD Does not Need Things

Treasure

Our GOD does not need things not even sacrifices for sin since Jesus paid the price for inequity for all time. So why do we worship, make offerings, confess sin and strive to do good? Yes these please GOD but the processes are for our benefit. By doing these things we are reminded that we are part of GOD’S creation and the definitions of “Good” and “Evil”  derived from GOD’S standards – as revealed in The Bible.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

GOD Loves us Unconditionally

Christ Is Enough – Hillsong Worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teUxQpnhezY

Worshiping God

Romans 5:8 ESV

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

GOD will not love us less or love us more  based on our  actions or omissions. The things we do that GOD enjoys is for our benefit: a better life, blessings, rejecting evil desiring to learn more each day about GOD and the ways of doing things. ALL FOR OUR BENEFIT.

Jesus​_
When we accept that we are sinners and that Jesus paid the ultimate price for sin by dying on the cross GOD sees us covered by the righteousness of Jesus. We are Saved. 
 

If you need to be told what GOD wants start here:

 

Matthew 22:37-40 

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and ​_with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

SONG:Open the Eyes of My Heart by Michael W. Smith, lyrics in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idQ1n3cdgfohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idQ1n3cdgfocommandment.

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I will Stay with You

Happy Thanksgiving

Jesus

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I will Stay with You​

In Old-age
In Illness

 

Making a commitment is easy but keeping it may not be so. In marriage we agree “for better or worse”; can we live up to it? When a spouse lets you down? Is not all you expected? Becomes ill? Is dying? Comfort the dying by remaining with them and reassuring them of you love and GOD’S Love.

James 5:12 ESV

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.  

Comrades
Nurses Vietnam’s Women’s Memorial

US Armed Forces we shall leave no one behind

The Warrior Ethos: Why We Leave No One Behind

By  @naterawlingsMay 17, 2012
 

Jesus is with us

Matthew 28:20 ESV

Jesus b

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

End of Life

SONG: Never Forsaken – Hillsong Worship

ovehttps://youtu.be/djCpJPnBy6Er

 

 

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Christians Responding to a Threat

Christians Responding to a Threat

Defense

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Threat: What is a threat?
Definition of threat
  https://www.merriam-
1: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage

2: one that threatens

3: an indication of something impending as the sky held a threat of rain
Does it matter?
Bully
What Kind of threat? Does it matter?  Yes.
Let us see what the Bible tells us:

Romans 12:17 ESV 

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
Christ Pays for Our Sin – images from pixabay.com



After King Saul became obsessed with killing David there were times when David could have killed King Saul but did not.
READ:  1 Samuel 24 New International Version (NIV)

“. . . . ’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.”

David could have killed King Saul who was a sever threat but did not.

Ageless Sword Protection

Jesus told Peter to put away his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas betrayed Him and He was about to be lead away.

John 18:11 ESV

So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

 
 
What about threats to you and your family?
Bandit
Bully

Exodus 22:2-3 ESV

If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

Much more to learn: Do not Murder; God may be the avenger; Jesus advocates turning the other cheek in some cases . . . 

A Biblical Argument for Self Defense: Wayne Grudem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSvm0sQ8BAw

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​​Live or Archived Sermons (to learn  from):

www.calvaryleh.org​_An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

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