A Thankful Heart

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV)


Look around you and take notice of all that you observe. What are you truly thankful for? I give thanks to the Lord for the air that we breathe, the sun, the stars that shine in the night sky, the trees, flowers, plants, shrubs, especially for the richness of the earth and soil, for without that richness and the mineral content of the soil, we would not have the abundant crops growing that help sustain us every single day. I am so thankful for the animals that in turn feed us. I am thankful as well for the oceans, rivers, lakes, streams and other bodies of water which give us the most important fluid, water, to keep us alive, healthy and clean. I am thankful for income resources, for my family, for my children, for education, for health, for the people that I have known all my life, for the friends that I have met along the way and for the ones who lift me up in prayer.

I am even thankful for the problems that come up, as they help to strengthen my relationship with my heavenly Father. I am most thankful for Jesus Christ, for He died on the cross for me. I am thankful for salvation and the promise of an eternal life in heaven with Him. I am also thankful that as I sit down at my Thanksgiving table, heavily laden with food, that I know Jesus loves me and has given to me and to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, all of this and so much more. "Give thanks with a grateful heart."

Lord, stop us in our tracks and make us open wide our eyes to all that You have so graciously provided and given for our enjoyment. Make us truly grateful to You. Thank you, Lord, for the most precious gift of our salvation. In all that we have, let us lift Your name in praise and thanksgiving.

A Thankful Heart
Elaine SutcliffeScarborough, Ontario, Canada

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THE DEFINITION OF RELIGION

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What do you think about the definition of "Religion"?

1. 
   "a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects"
2. 
   "the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices"
   http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion

Does it mean what you thought it meant?

Does it say anything about your relationship with God?

Does it say anything about God?

This definition does not describe what I have and experience with my God. The God of Abraham. I can not even find where "religion" fits in my life. If "religion" is about obeying man's rules or set of beliefs than I don't want to be considered "religious". I do not want any part of it in my life concerning my relationship with God. I don't want "religion". I want a relationship with God: a relationship with him that is so close that I speak with him everyday and he with me. I want a relationship with God that leads me and guides me in the direction I should go, to do whatever his will is for my life, and to serve others. I want a relationship with God when I know him so well that I recognize when he tells me no and I reply "yes Lord" because I just want to please him. Who needs "religion"when you have a relationship with God like that? I will not need man's set of beliefs and rules. I will have God's beliefs and rules. I will have the mind of Christ not the mind of man.

After considering the definition of "religion", I realize that I don't have or want "religion". I have God and a relationship with him. The bible never said that I need "religion". It says that I need Christ. The question is: What do you have? "Religion" or a relationship with Christ. Selah (pause and think on this)

God bless,

College Mom

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What Does Legalism Mean Anyway?

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This information is from a website that I found on Legalism. I found it so interesting that I decided to post it on my blog. I hope you enjoy reading it as I did.

Legalism

What really is a legalist? There is a false definition of legalism and a Biblical definition. In the thinking of most Christians, any presentation of Christianity which maintains standards, practices separation from the world and has a code of conduct is guilty of legalism. This notion is expressed in the liberal Dictionary of Philosophy which defines legalism as “The insistence on a strict literal or overt observance of certain rules of conduct, or the belief that there are rules which must be so obeyed.” Christians who decry legalism invariably turn to the book of Galatians for a Scriptural indictment of legalism. Galatians is the book that speaks against legalism and warns believers not to let themselves be put under the law. But this “legalism” described and written against the Galatians is not the legalism spoken against today. The Biblical concept of legalism is far different.

Biblical “legalism” was the teaching advanced by some of the Jewish community which insisted that it was necessary to keep some of the law of Moses in order to gain salvation. To them salvation was gained by faith in Christ and observing the legal system of Moses. Webster properly defines legalism in this way as “the doctrine of salvation by good works.” Paul wrote the Galatian epistle to counteract such legalism and make it plain that salvation was by faith alone, without the deeds of the law. “...a man is not justified by the works of the law” (2:16); “...if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (2:21); “...that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident...” (3:11); “...if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law” (3:21); “...the law as our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (3:24).

Against this backdrop of maintaining that legal observances have nothing to do with our salvation Paul exhorts, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (5:1). Let us be clear. The legalism which the apostle opposed was that thinking which made the observance of the law a condition of salvation. Certainly no Bible believing Baptist teaches that law-keeping is part of salvation. We are saved by faith alone. The works of the law do not and cannot either help us gain salvation or help us keep salvation. Salvation is all of grace—none of works. For anyone to accuse us of being legalists then is either to deliberately distort our position on salvation or else to abandon the Biblical concept of legalism and adopt the modern notion advanced by the moderns.

In spite of these facts, why is it that folk like to label us as legalists? There are two related reasons. First, the thinking of most people has been heavily influenced by the thinking of humanism. Humanism is diametrically opposed to all rules, standards, codes of conduct and moral absolutes of any kind. It believes that everyone should be free to do as he pleases. Those who disagree are labeled “Legalists.” Secondly, most people want to use their liberty for an occasion to the flesh (5:13). They do not want anyone telling them that some of the things they enjoy may be wrong so they banish all such suggestions by labeling them “legalistic.”

The real issue is this: should we teach do’s and don’t’s in Christian living? Should we preach that there are standards which ought to be maintained and deeds which should not be done? A large crowd would say “no - don’t be negative - don’t be legalistic.” But what saith the Scriptures? Every page of Scripture lists things we are not to do. The first page of the Bible tells Adam “thou shalt not” and the last page of Scripture warns not to take away or add to the words of the Book. All of Scripture has rules of what to do and what not to do. Every page is replete with “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not.” To say that rules of conduct are only found as part of the Mosaic law is certainly a misrepresentation of the truth.

The problem in Christianity today is the seeping scourge of humanism that has saturated the minds of Christians, Christian leaders, Christian authors and even preachers. Humanism maintains that the ultimate goal of man is to enjoy himself and develop his potential without the restriction of outmoded taboos and irrelevant rules. Humanism says that each one must decide for himself what is right and what is wrong—no one else should interfere. This is the thinking that causes Christians to throw off any restraints and label them as “legalism.” In so doing they open the door to the inroads of all sorts of worldliness, questionable conduct and ungodly living. Christian standards have been discarded, Christian conduct has sunk to the level of the world and all is done to the theme of freedom from the law.

Christians are free from the specific ceremonies of the laws of Moses. Certainly Christians are free from the necessity of keeping the law in order to gain salvation. But that does not make Christians free to do as they will and live as they please. God has His directives for Christian living. He tells us what to do and what not to do. There are not 10 suggestions but rather 10 commandments. The Beatitudes promise blessing to those who do and do not do certain things. Every epistle in the New Testament is replete with injunctions, commandments, prohibitions and orders. The person who seeks to obey the Scriptures is a Biblicist, not a legalist.

Are we legalists? No, we are just people who believe the Bible and are simple enough to believe that if God says, “do it,” we ought to do it, and if God says, “don’t,”we shouldn’t. The accusation of legalism is a phony accusation trumped up to excuse those who prefer to ignore the directives of God’s Word and live to satisfy themselves.


By Pastor James R Hines
http://www.baptistpillar.com/bd0367.htm size 9072 bytes indexed 8/10/98 Hits: 22

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GUIDLINES TO MEASURE SPIRITUAL MATURITY

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God has a schedule for your life, a plan for becoming the person He expects you to be. But He measures your progress by the signs of spiritual maturity in your life, rather than by the days marked off your desk calendar.

Maturity is a measurement that applies differently to different people. A mature infant will gurgle and coo, while a mature high school student will recite the Gettysburge Address. They are vastly different in their capabilities, yet each is mature.

So how do you measure spiritual maturity?
Here are some guidelines:

• You are making the most of the opportunities God has given you. To get a picture of what this means, review Jesus' Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30).


• Your life is bringing glory to God. This means your life acts as a mirror, reflecting God's blessings to people who have not seen what He can do (Matthew 5:14-16).


• You can discriminate between good and evil choices. You have learned the difference by repeatedly choosing the good (Hebrews 5:14).


• You gladly receive instruction from God's Word and act upon it. You have become good soil for the seed of the Word (Luke 8:4-15).


• You measure yourself by Christ. He is the true model of spiritual maturity, rather than your friends or famous Christians you have read about (Ephesians 4:13).


• You think as an adult-that is, as a spiritual adult (Corinthians 12:20).

Characteristics of adult thinking:

• Ackowledges reality. Confronts the true facts of each situation, even when the facts are painful.


• Defers satisfaction. Willing to wait months, even years, for the things desired.


• Contributes to community. Addresses the needs of neighbors as well as personal needs.


• Concedes predominace. Knows one cannot get his own way every time.
  
  Is your own thinking mature in each of these respects?
  
  1. You care for others as deeply as you care for yourself. The spiritually mature person often deals with his neighbor's needs before he deals with his own (Philippians 2:3-4).
  
  2. You apply what you've learned from your failures. This is a rich concept. When you have a disheartening experience, don't write it off as a failure; consider it an experiment, Remember that an experiment never fails. It always teaches you somethings.
  
  Selah.

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HONOR THY FATHER

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Inspirational By Terri Johnson
Selah. Think on these things
Volume 2, Issue 2,
Date June 16, 2007

HONOR THY FATHER
Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother ;
(which is the first commandment with promise;)

Our life begins with the union of a man and a woman, our earthly Father and Mother. Our earthly father figure we most come to know as Daddy. Do you want to make your Daddy's eyes light up with joy on this Father's Day? "What can I get" is usually the first thing that comes to our mind on special days such as this. But I would venture to say, from experience, a gift is not always what a parent looks for from a child. They want your love, a visit or maybe a phone call if you aren't where you can be there on that special day. Why not take time out this Father's Day to call your Daddy or go to see him and put a sparkle in his eyes? You will be glad you did in years to come when Daddy is no longer there in your presence.
We also have a heavenly Father who is there regardless of whether we have our natural father in our lives or not. He will never leave nor forsake us in our need.

Psalm 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, [is] God in his holy habitation.


Every child wants a Daddy he or she can look up to, maybe set on his lap, share the day with him and just know he will be there when we need him. For those not so blessed, there is a Father that is always there for us, never judges us, and loves us more than anyone.

Psalm 36:7 How excellent [is] thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings .

Psalm 61:4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings . Selah.


Matthew 15:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?


Remember, that regardless of our age, to our parents, we are always their "child". To God, we mean so much he had his only begotten Son lay down his life for us.


John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [ sheep ], and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep .

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For questions or comments contact me at: College Mom




exerpt from: http://www.entourages.com/barbs/Father.htm


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PURPOSE OF OUR WORSHIP

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SPREADING GOD’S
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Inspirational

Selah. Think on these things


Volume 2, Issue 1, Date
May 16, 2007
For questions or comments about this Blog, reply to me at: College Mom.


Purpose of Our Worship of God --

Lesson 1 of 4

The purpose of our worship is to glorify, honor, praise, exalt, and please God. Our worship must show our adoration and loyalty to God for His grace in providing us with the way to escape the bondage of sin, so we can have the salvation He so much wants to give us. The nature of the worship God demands is the prostration of our souls before Him in humble and contrite submission. James 4:6, 10 tells us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up". Our worship to God is a very humble and reverent action.

Jesus says in John 4:23-24, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." It doesn’t say we can worship God anyway we want, but we "must worship Him in spirit and in truth". The word "must" makes it absolute. There is no other way we can worship God and be acceptable to Him. The word "must", according to Webster, expresses "an obligation, a requirement, a necessity, a certainty, and something that must be done". When "must" is used it means that it is not optional. Here the word "must" is expressing that in spirit and in truth is the only way to acceptably worship God.

God seeks true worshippers, and He identifies them as those who "worship Him in spirit and in truth". Worshipping God in spirit means that it must be done from the heart. Worshipping God in truth means that it must be done according as God has specified in the Bible. Worshipping God in spirit and in truth is a serious matter which must not be taken lightly. If we have any regard for our own souls, we will want to make sure we are worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

Worship is a time when we pay deep, sincere, awesome respect, love, and fear to the one who created us. Acts 17:24-25 says, "God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life, breath, and all things." Worship should cause us to reflect on the majesty and graciousness of God and Christ, contrasted to our own unworthiness. God does not have to have our worship, but we must worship Him to please Him. Our singing, praying, studying His word, giving, and communion are designed by God to bring us closer to Him and to cause us to think more like He thinks, thus becoming more like Him. James 4:18 tells us to, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

Our worship not only honors and magnifies God, but it is also for our own edification and strength. Worship helps us develop a God-like and Christ-like character. We become like unto those we admire and worship. When we worship God we tend to value what God values and gradually take on the characteristics and qualities of God, but never to His level. As Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ." How do we take on the mind of Christ? In Romans 12:2 we read, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We renew our mind as we study and meditate on God’s word and worship Him.

When we worship God we develop such traits as forgiveness, tenderness, justice, righteousness, purity, kindness, and love. All of this is preparing us for eternal life in heaven with God and Christ. As we are told in Colossians 3:2 to, "Set your mind on things above, and not on things on the earth."


In Summary:

• WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU VALUE MOST HIGHLY OR PLACE THE GREATEST WORTH UPON IS WHAT YOU WORSHIP.
  


• 
  
  When we worship God, we develop such traits as forgiveness, tenderness, justice, righteousness, purity, kindness, and love.

Selah means to weigh the preceding Word of God and wisely consider them. It is a signature exhortation from God for our thoughtful reflection and weighing of what we have just read. Selah.

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