See By It

The Great Commandment

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 KJV

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

There is one God. There is only one Creator. There is only one.

Some people will say that it doesn't matter who someone serves as long as they serve an higher power, but I'm here to tell you it does matter because there  is only one God.

God tells us that there really is only one commandment as well. If we remember this one, great commandment, then we will follow the rest of His commands out of love.

We are to love God with all we have. All our heart. All our soul. All our might.

God gave His all for us. We must give our all for Him.

We cannot just love Him a little. We can't just love Him 1/2 way. We must give Him all our love. If you do, you will study His Word and seek to know Him better. You will strive to have a relationship with Him.

Better Days Ahead

Haggai 2:3-9 KJV

3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: 5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. 6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

While God was speaking to His chosen people in today's scripture, it can also apply to us. Just as He covenanted with them in Egypt, He covenanted with us when we accepted Christ's shed blood for us.

He tells us to be strong because He is with us. He tells us to not fear because His Spirit remains.

When we look at America, we could say that this was once a great nation, but it is not so much anymore and continues to degrade. The important thing to remember; however, is that Christ will come back some day. The world as we know it will cease to exist and we will get a new heaven and a new earth and the "latter house shall be greater than the former."

We will have peace again someday. We must wait on the Lord and look forward to Christ's return.

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Word of Wisdom Wednesday

Proverbs 8:11 

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

It is far better to seek wisdom than to seek riches. Nothing compares to being wise since if you find wisdom, you find life.

Proverbs 8:35 

For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

How Do You Know it is a Lie?

4-24-16 Sermon

Marriage Moment Monday ~ Speak Life

Proverbs 12:18

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 15:4

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

What we say can have a major affect on our marriages. We can lift up or tear down. We can bring life to a marriage or we can kill it. Be careful what you say.

Words are powerful and can heal if used properly. Speak encouraging words to your husband. Think on the positives and voice those to your husband.

Speaking encouraging words can bring life to a dying marriage and bring more life to a good marriage. Replace negative comments with positive. Replace criticism with encouragement. Replace condemnation with grace.

The Heavens Declare

Be Strong

First Year

Deuteronomy 24:5

When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

When I was a child, I remember hearing stories of my great uncle having taken a full year off work for a honeymoon. I remember thinking that was crazy. I also remember someone saying it was biblical.

As I read Deuteronomy 24:5, the stories came back to me. Here it was--the biblical statute for a newly married couple to spend the first year together.

I wish I remember how he accomplished such a feat. Did he have a year's income saved up? Did he go back to his previous job after that year? Did they live like paupers and only on love? I honestly can't remember. When I talk to people now days, they don't see how it is possible and while it seems impossible, I think it is something worth striving towards. If God wrote it, it must be important!

Maybe we should encourage our sons and daughters to have enough money saved up. Maybe we should encourage a home business where they can work together (not a full understanding of the scripture, but closer than the normal).

So much growth can happen in the first year that this would help.

What are your thoughts?

All Have Sinned

Romans 2:1-4 

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

People often tell Christians that we are not to judge others; however, God's Word tells us that we can (Matthew 18:15-17 and James 5:19-20 are just a couple of examples). The problem with judging others is doing it self-righteously.

If we judge others all the while thinking we are sinless, there is a problem. We are all sinners!

We need to remember that we will be judged by the same standards we use to judge others. God is the only true judge and His judgements are righteous. We will not escape judgement as all will stand before the throne of God.

Just as we will be judged for our wrong doings, we will also be judged for the times we denied His "riches of his goodness". We should welcome with open arms all He has for us. And we should extend those same blessings to others. Just as Christ has forgiven us and shown us grace & mercy, we should forgive and show grace and mercy to others.