THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION

If I am naked--You are the Lord my righteousness.
If I am soul-sick--You are my physician.
If I am weak and helpless--You are my strength.
If I am neglected and despised--You are my compassionate and faithful friend.
If I am ignorant--You are made unto me wisdom.
If I am polluted and enslaved--You are made unto me sanctification and redemption.
If I am nothing but emptiness and vanity--You are full of grace and truth."

Do you ever feel down on yourself at times? Do you ever feel so sick at those times when you are battling the flesh? Do you sometimes feel useless or just empty, feeling you have nothing to give? Do you ever feel alone with no one there to share with?

I think we all feel one or more these feelings even as a christian...I know I have.
Those valleys of life we deal with are never battled alone, we have the one and only one that never leaves us or forsakes us, He loves us for who were are, in any situation we are in...even sinning..He is always there.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31

"He withdraws not His eyes front the righteous" for one moment. There stands the "Friend that sticks closer than a brother," waiting to beam upon them a glance of His love-enkindled eye, and to manifest Himself to them as He does not unto the world, even from behind our wall."

Comforting words?

WE ARE THE REASON

Christ beareth me good company. He has eased me, when I saw it not, lifting the cross off my shoulders, so that I think it to be but a feather, because underneath are everlasting arms. - Samulel Rutherford

GOSSIP AND THE DAMAGE IT CAUSES

James 3:4-6 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. (NAS)

Do we ever care about the ripping effect Gossip has? The damage that can be caused by gossip can damage a person's life forever. There is an old saying "If you don't have something good to say, don't say anything at all" How true are these words? The tongue as the verse above says, "it is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell." Our tongue can cause pain for another when we use it to gossip about another. William Penn said,"Never report what may hurt another unless it be greater hurt to conceal it." It can be a damaging weapon. If what you have to say about someone is just to hurt that person, DON'T say it, but if you feel that if not reported someone will be hurt by it, if not reported, then of course reveal it.

The Hebrew word translated “gossip” in the Old Testament is defined as one who reveals secrets going about as a talebearer or scandal-monger. This is one who has gotten out of people secrets about themselves and their families, and then goes about telling his tales from house to house, to the great detriment of those whose secrets he is entrusted with, as well as to those to whom he tells them, as well as to his own. Gossip is distinguished from sharing information by its intent. The gossip-monger has as his goal building himself up by making others look bad and by exalting his superior knowledge of others.

"They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans 1:29b-32). We see from this passage how serious the sin of gossip is and that it characterizes those who are under God’s wrath.

Women like to gossip, but as the years go on I realize men do just as much. We all struggle in this area. What drives me crazy is when Folks will say "Let's pray for so and so" and then go in deep detail about that person's situation...details that do not need to be shared...this is "GOSSIPING" as far as I am concerned.

"A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man [or woman] who talks too much" (Proverbs 20:19).

( From "Got a Question?")
"A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret" (Proverbs 11:12-13).
The Bible tells us that "a perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends" (Proverbs 16:28). Many a friendship has been ruined over a misunderstanding that started with gossip. Those who engage in this behavior do nothing but stir up trouble and cause anger and bitterness, not to mention hurt, among friends. Sadly, some people thrive on this and look for opportunities to destroy others. And when such people are confronted, they deny the allegations and answer with excuses and rationalizations. Rather than admit wrong, they blame someone or something else, or attempt to make it sound like the sin committed isn't so bad. "A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts" (Proverbs 18:7-8).

Those who guard their mouths and tongues keep themselves from calamity (Proverbs 21:23). So we must guard our tongues and refrain from the sinful act of gossip. If we surrender our natural desires to the Lord, He will help us to remain righteous. God rewards the just and the righteous, so we should all strive to remain as such.


Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. Prov. 26:20 Next time someone starts to gossip. put out the fire before it starts and walk away, it could be you next, that person will gossip about. "Who gossips to you, will gossip of you."

Cristina

LITTLE CHILDREN THAT SUFFER

little Katelynn Sampson born to a drug-addicted mother who could not take proper care of her, then handed over to a so called friend..then gruesomely murdered. I read this in our home town paper this week, the horror this little girl went through and my heart aches for this little one. The truma she endured in such a short life just tears me apart. It shows the depravity of man to the core.

A 911 call was placed about a child choking, but veteran homicide Detective-Sergeant Steve Ryan said Katelynn suffered severe and complicated injuries he characterized as among the worst he had seen in 20 years.

So many children that suffer at the hands of adults, it just should not be like this, but it is. Children who put their trust in an adult just to find out that they are their worse enemy. When this sort of thing happens and a little one dies, I can only rest in the fact the God is a merciful. The bible does not teach an Age of Accountabilty, but I know I serve a Loving and merciful God and just leave it at that.

And you know the hardest thing to do is to pray for the folks accountable for this horrible act...pray for their salvation, but I do. God help them....God please show them their sinful ways and save them.

Cristina

SUBMISSION TO OUR HUSBANDS

I wrote a blog around a year or 2 ago about how women are to submit to their husbands. It sure is a touchy subject to a lot of women. For a wife to deny she must submit to her husbands means she must deny the inspiration of scripture itself...


Eph 5:22-24 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Colossians 3:18 (King James Version)

Col. 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

1 Peter 3
1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

1 Cor. 11:3 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God

Wives must submit to their husbands as though he were the Lord.
How do some women feel when they hear this I wonder? I will give you the answer, they are angry, defensive, they will say I am not his slave!

Well....Ephesians 5 says "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." God has asked us to submit to our husbands, just as we submit to our Lord, our Master. "Our Master, you say!" "We are not our husbands slaves!" Servants are slaves and they serve their Master. We are servants also to our Lord as we should be servants to our husbands.

Lady's that read this, please listen to what I Peter 3 says..

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Sarah had no problem submitting to Abraham, did she? I think a word that women that do not know Christ hate most when talking about the bible or Christianity is the word "Obey". Many women take the word "OBEY" out of their vows of marriage.

When we submit to our husband by obeying him, we are submitting to God and that is the most important thing in all of this. We are submitting to God, we are practicing what the Word of God tells wives to do. We need to remember this in those times we find hard to submit to our husbands and there are times even if they are few that all women do struggle with submission. Some suggest that a wife submitting to husband makes her a second class human, or inferior to men. This is wrong. Husbands and wives share equal rights as humans. The husband is not "higher" than the wife because she must submit to him!

I do believe as we submit to our husband we are giving him the strength to lead his wife and children. He has more confidence in himself knowing that we trust and rely on his wisdom and the decisions he makes for his family. Women that stand behind their husbands a lot of times are the emotional strength and their roles are just as important in a marriage. When your children see how you submit to your husbands, they also will usually follow that pattern. Also when we submit we make it so much easier for our husbands to follow Gods Word When a husband loves his wife as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25-33),

So ladies remember God has given us this special role to live by, let us remember that first and foremost we are pleasing Him and then our husbands. Our goal should be to be like the Proverbs 31 woman. I'm working on it....

Cristina

YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS

"He who says he abides in Him, ought himself also
to walk even as He walked." 1 John 2:6

Christians are to set all Christ's moral actions before them
as a pattern for their imitation. In Christ's life, a Christian
may behold the picture or lineaments of all virtues--and
accordingly he ought to order his life in this world.

To walk as Christ walked is to walk . . .
humbly,
holy,
justly,
meekly,
lovingly,
fruitfully,
faithfully,
uprightly.

To walk as Christ walked is to . . .
slight the world,
despise the world,
make a footstool of the world,
to live above the world, and
to triumph over the world as Christ did.

To walk as Christ walked is . . .
to love those who hate us,
to pray for those who persecute us,
to bless those who curse us, and
to do good to those who do evil to us.

To walk as Christ walked is to be patient, and silent,
and submissive, and thankful, under the vilest reproaches,
the heaviest afflictions, and the greatest sufferings.

"Leaving you an example, that you should follow
in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21

From Grace Gems

Those that know Him should follow His lead, there should be some sort of fruit in their lives. The corrupt nature, called the old man has been done away with and we are a new man, with Christ living in us. If Jesus lives in you and me we have all the power we need to be conformed into His image. Let us take up our cross and make a difference in this world, in the nieghbors around us, the folks we work with....with our families that are lost.

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

2 Timothy 1:8 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

Cristina

FINDING JOY

"The things we try to avoid and fight against - tribulation, suffering and persecution - are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. Huge waves that would frighten the ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. "We are more than conquerors through Him" IN all these things - not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn't know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation". Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Rom 8:37, 2 Cor 7:4)

How hard is for you sometimes to thank God for an affliction or trial? I know sometimes it is hard for me. I sometimes question His purpose but then He reminds me "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 The joy we have when we remind ourselves, we are children of the Almighty, He is our Father and He is with us every moment of every day and every trial and tribulation. The joy we have in that should put a smile on our face and joy in all we do and say. Have you thanked God today?

Thank you Lord!

Cristina

ASKING WHY?

I am back and want to talk about what I read in our Home Town Newspaper this morning.
I am getting older and as you get older I think most folks check the obituaries to see if anyone they have known in their past has passed away. As I read this morning paper and scanned the Obituaries I came across one that told of a young mother and her twin daughters dying at birth.
Heather, 26, July 30 Mya, infant, July 30, Lauren, infant, July 31,

My heart sunk reading this, my heart went out to the dear husband and family of this Mom and babies.

I can not even imagine what this dear husband and father is going through right now, loosing his wife and his first children at the same time. The sorrow he must be experiencing?

I have never really had to deal with a situation like this and I wonder how I would deal with it? I know the Lord would substain me through it, but I also know that we are still in the flesh and we still feel pain and loss.

How would you answer this man and his family if they ask, Why did this happen?

Cristina