GRACE AND MERCY

Amazing Grace and Mercy
The grace of God comes to us in our poor sinful condition and offers us the mercy of God when we deserve His wrath.God shows us mercy and God uses people to show His mercy through them.

God shows mercy in saving us. "According to His mercy,He saved us." Titus 3:5. This is the top-stone of mercy!Here mercy displays itself in all its orient colors. Mercy imercy indeed, when God perfectly refines us from all the lees and dregs of corruption; when our bodies are made like Christ's glorious body, and our souls like the angels.Saving mercy is crowning mercy. It is not merely to be freed from hell—but enthroned in a kingdom! What rich mercy will it be—to fully possess God, to see His smiling face, and to lay in His bosom forever! This will fill us with "a glorious, inexpressible joy!" 1 Peter 1:8. God'ssaving mercy, is the diamond in the ring!

We are all living monuments of God's mercy! He shows mercy to us in daily supplying us. He supplies us with health. Health is the sauce which makes life sweeter. How those who are chained to a sick-bed, would prize this mercy! God supplies us with provisions. "God who fed me all my life long." Gen 48:15. Mercy spreads our tables, and carves for us every bit of bread we eat! We never drink, but in the golden cup of mercy!

" 'Grace' is more than mercy and love, it superadds to them. It denotes, not simply love, but the love of a sovereign, transcendently superior, one that may do what he will, that may wholly choose whether he will love or no. There may be love between equals, and an inferior may love a superior; but love in a superior, and so superior as he may do what he will, in such a one love is called grace: and therefore grace is attributed to princes; they are said to be gracious to their subjects, whereas subjects cannot be gracious to princes. Now God, who is an infinite Sovereign, who might have chosen whether ever He would love us or no, for Him to love us, this is grace." Thomas Goodwin

REMEMBER....

To those that love the Lord with all their hearts...Our comfort is found in Him, Remember Be still my soul....

Or those that do not know Christ as their Savior, He is but a breath away. He can comfort you when you feel at a loss, He will never disappoint you, He will love you with an everlasting Love and He will take that dead heart and give you a new heart washed in the blood He shed on Calvary and cause you to walk in His ways....He will still your soul....

GRACE

"Grace" is more than mercy and love, it superadds to them. it denotes, not simply love, but the love of a sovereign, transcendly superior, one that may do what he will, that may wholly choose whether he will love or no. There may be love between equals, and an inferior may love a superior; but love in a superior, and so superior as he may do what he will, in such a one love is called grace: and therefore grace is attributed to princes; they are said to be gracious to their subjects, whereas subjects cannot be gracious to princes. Now God, who is an infinite Sovereign, who might have chosen whether ever He would love us or no, for Him to love us, this is grace.

—Thomas Goodwin

ROMANS 8:28

To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that all things which fall out shall co-operate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over.

—Thomas Watson

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

This is my husbands favorite verse and I can understand why.

All things, that means "All our afflictions and trials; all the persecutions and calamities to which we are exposed. Though they are numerous and long-continued yet they are among the means that are appointed for our welfare."

Work together for good - They shall cooperate; they shall mutually contribute to our good. Whatever trial we go through, there is a reason for it, that in the end it will work for our good.

To them that love God To them who are the called - That means you and me who children of God, the Elect, those that have put their faith in Jesus Christ. Those whom have been called to be one of His own.

When we have afflictions in our life, we can find it as a challenge, we can say."How can I bring God the glory in all this and how can I handle this and let others see the faith I have in Christ even though I am suffering?"

According to his purpose It implies that God had a plan, purpose, or intention, in regard to all who became Christians. They are not saved by chance or hap-hazard. God does not convert people without design; and his designs are not new, but are eternal. What he does. he always meant to do. What it is right for him to do, it was right always to intend to do. What God always meant to do, is his purpose or plan. That he has such a purpose in regard to the salvation of his people, is often affirmed.

This purpose of saving his people is,
(1) One over which a creature can have no control; it is according to the counsel of his own will; Eph_1:11.
(2) it is without any merit on the part of the sinner - a purpose to save him by grace; 2Ti_1:9.
(3) it is eternal; Eph_3:11.
(4) it is such as should excite lively gratitude in all who have been inclined by the grace of God to accept the offers of eternal life. They owe it to the mere mercy of God, and they should acknowledge him as the fountain and source of all their hopes of heaven.
(help from e-sword)

As the wicked are hurt by the best things, so the godly are bettered by the worst.
—William Jenkyn

Afflictions are light when compared with what we really deserve. They are light when compared with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus. But perhaps their real lightness is best seen by comparing them with the weight of glory which is awaiting us.

Amen Mr. Pink!

Many Christians are not bettered by the judgments they see--when they have bettered by the judgments they have felt. The gold is refined--by being in the furnace! Likewise, with the Christian, "I have refined you in the furnace of suffering!" Isaiah 48:10



Cristina

JUST LISTEN

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper he, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great;
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,—
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he,
Lord Sabaoth his name,
From age to age the same,
And he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us;
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, —
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure, —
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers —
No thanks to them — abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

WHOSE THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE?

Is Jesus the Lord of your life? Do you submit to His Lordship? Are you in submission to His will? Do you yield to His control?

What do I mean by this, are you obedient to the path He has asked you to follow? I know what you are saying," It’s Grace, it’s all about Grace" and I would answer yes it is, but that doesn’t give us a reason to continue in sin. We are saved through grace but that does not mean we are not to be obedient to the Word of God. When we are saved, we are to be submissive to the Lord, it is a commandment of God. There is scripture throughout the Bible that teaches us to submit to our Lord to help us mature in Christ. I am not saying it is works that saves,but I am saying, obedience is important , it should be a desire for us to please God in all we do. Yes we are still in the flesh and it is something we will all fight until the day we are face to face with Jesus but the flesh should not be our excuse everytime we sin. We do not need to be disobedient, we choose to.

Sometimes we try to accomplish things on our own when we have the Holy Spirit indwelling inside us to be obedient and we should rely on Him..
Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Being filled with the Spirit is yielding to the Spirit’s control. It is also important to note that even when we fail to obey, God has made a provision for that so that we can remain in fellowship with Him.
1John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

We are strongest when we rely on Him, We can not do this on are own, when the Lord is first in our lives, then and then alone do we really see a difference in our walk. The question is are we willing to bow down to the Lord's leading?

Consider some of the serious implications of Jesus' lordship:
1. Lordship implies our entire submission from the outset. It is a strange salvation that knows nothing about daily submission to Christ the Lord.
2. Lordship implies our willing service. The most outstanding conversion in the history of the church was that of the apostle Paul, recorded in Acts 9. It is interesting to note two questions Paul asked in verses 5 and 6: "Who are you, Lord?" and "What do you want me to do?" These are questions of a willing servant.
3. Lordship implies obedience. Jesus Said in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?"
4. Lordship implies ownership. If Jesus is my Lord, He owns me lock, stock, and barrel.Ernest C. Reisinger

Whomever the Lord has adopted and deemed worthy of his fellowship ought to prepare themselves for a hard, toilsome, and unquiet life, crammed with very many and various kinds of evil. It is the Heavenly Father's will thus to exercise them so as to put his own children to a definite test. Beginning with Christ, his first-born, he follows this plan with all his children. --John Calvin

GOD'S OMNIPRESENCE

"Perhaps the most serious, sobering thing my mind has ever contemplated is the fact that I am always in the presence of God. God cannot be shut out anywhere. Even in the most secret recesses of my mind and the deepest, most secluded imaginationsof my heart, God is there. Everything I think, say, and do is done in the immediate presence of God. This fact should cause me to be filled with reverence and godly fear and with great joy too. God is present everywhere to save, preserve, and comfort his elect." -Don Fortner

Our Lord is always with us, He sees all and hears all that we say and do, even when we are in the flesh and yet He never leaves us. His promise is kept, His love is eternal. There is no greater love then the love of God.

Jer 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Matthew 18:12-14 "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? (13) "And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. (14) "Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

When God calls a man, He does not repent of it. God does not, as many friends do, love one day, and hate another; or as princes, who make their subjects favourites, and afterwards throw theminto prison. This is the blessedness of a saint; his condition admits of no alteration. God's call is founded upon His decree, and His decree is immutable. Acts of grace cannot be reversed.God blots out His people's sins, but not their names.
—Thomas Watson

TRUST GOD

Those circumstances, which to the dim eye of Jacob's faith wore a hue so somber, were at that very moment developing and perfecting the events which were to shed around the evening of his life the halo of a glorious and cloudless sunset. All things were working together for his good! And so, troubled soul, the "much tribulation" will soon be over, and as you enter the "kingdom of God" you shall then see, no longer "through a glass darkly" but in the unshadowed sunlight of the Divine presence, that "all things" did "work together" for your personal and eternal good.
—Arthur W. Pink

As the Elections of United Stated draw near, I are wondering what will happen in the next years ahead with the newly elected Government? When folks go to elect the one they feel would run the country better, do they elect the best of the worse? Do they elect the ones that are against abortion or those that are for abortion because they seem to be the better one that can deal with the economy? I have heard many professing Christians say they will vote for Obama because they feel he will be the best one because of the economy, and some say they will vote for McCain because he would be best one to deal with the terrorist and can protect our country.

McCain supports the following statements:
Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as “partial-birth” abortion.
Prohibit public funding of abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.

Obama:
Q: Do you personally believe that life begins at conception?
A: This is something that I have not come to a firm resolution on. I think it's very hard to know what that means, when life begins. Is it when a cell separates? Is it when the soul stirs? So I don't presume to know the answer to that question. What I know is that there is something extraordinarily powerful about potential life and that that has a moral weight to it that we take into consideration when we're having these debates.

I have to ask the Americans, do you vote for men that feel it is ok to abort a baby? We have been given the freedom and privilege to vote, but I also believe we have to be true to the Lord and not vote for a man that would agree to abortion, in any cercumstance. We have to remember who ever gets voted in to office, God has already planned it and for what ever purpose has allowed one of these two gentlemen to run the country for the years ahead. As a christian can you really vote for one of these men because of their stand on Abortion? I could not cast a vote for a man that believes in the murder of of a baby.

When a mom decides to abort her baby because she was raped or because of incest, I am sorry I can not agree with it. There are many folks out there that are alive because a mother decided against abortion, and gave birth, I am sure they are so thankful. When a mother's life is in trouble, it is tough but I have a heard of many women willing to take a chance for their baby to be born and I commend them.

I guess it bothers me that christians are willing to vote in a man that is willing to take away the chance of life for a baby to be born. Obama is just sitting on the fence like he always does to get the vote from both sides. I commend a man that stands up and say abortion is wrong and I will not agree with it and I commend a christian to say no and does not vote for a man that believes in the murdering of babies.

Divine sovereignty is not the sovereignty of a tyrannical Despot, but the exercised pleasure of One who is infinitely wise and good! Because God is infinitely wise He cannot err, and because He is infinitely righteous He will not do wrong. Here then is the preciousness of this truth. The mere fact itself that God's will is irresistible and irreversible fills me with fear, but once I realize that God wills only that which is good, my heart is made to rejoice.
—Arthur W. Pink

Cristina

Prayer Request

Could I please ask for prayer for my dad. He has shingles and he is in a lot of pain. It is right around his chest and It pains me to see him suffer so much. He is always a jolly man and not to hear that in his voice hurts very much.

Thank you
Cristina

ALL THINGS NAKED

I read this and thought this was well worth sharing with others. Do we sometimes forget that God sees and hears everything we do... I sometimes forget, and think I can get away with sin because it may seem so insignificant, yet in God's eyes it is just as bad as a horrific sin. When I think on this I bow my head in shame. We battle the flesh every day of our lives, we just have to remember we are not alone. I know lately my blog has been on fighting the flesh, I guess it is because the battle seems to be getting stronger. I find that when you really want to walk strong for the Lord, the Enemy of God's Children makes it tougher because he just does not want you to do the Lord's work. When I read on putting the armor of God, it encourages me. I hope you enjoy reading this as I did......... I want Jesus to say I am pleased with this child. Please pray for me

Hebrews 4:13, "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

All things are open and laid bare before God. All things are open to His view and understanding. No thought or action escapes the God who created the heavens and the earth. All things are naked before him. Knowing this, do we dare omit any duty, or commit any sin, while under the ever-seeing eye of the God who sees all things and hates sin? It is wise for us, when we are tempted, to remember that God misses nothing. We know that Christ has delivered His people from Hell, but do we remember that He has also delivered us from this evil world? Those temptations which assail us are known to God, and our response to them, either to yield to or resist sin, is laid open and bare before Him.

We ought to remember that sin grieves God. He created us, has watched over us, preserved us, endured our foolishness, given us food, drink, sunshine, rain and all that we need to sustain our lives. Yet we all too often repay His kindness by transgressing His will and going our own way. It is as if we thought our understanding surpassed His. Yet when we go our own way and cross His way, He is ever-loving when we return to Him. God does not say, "You made the choice to sin, and now all I have to do with you is give you the punishment you deserve." No, He is joyful when we return to Him and forsake our sin. This thought should encourage us. The One to whom all things are naked and open sorrows when we transgress His way, and rejoices to receive us back, when we sorrow before Him in repentance.

While on this earth we are not freed from the presence of sin in our lives, through Christ, we are freed from the power of sin to condemn us to hell for eternity. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," Romans 8:1. Sin may vex us, but it does not hold final authority over us. Christ has paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. Thus, while temptations may confront us on all sides, we know that in a final sense, we have already obtained final victory over temptation through the atoning work of Christ. "And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me, and by which they have transgressed against Me," Jeremiah 33:8.
It is both knowing that all is laid naked before God, and that Christ has freed us from the ultimate power of temptation, that should encourage us to stand firm when we are tempted to yield to it. The following is the story of Mr. Story, who had a great reputation for honesty. He was brought before King James II to be tried for rebellion, and not many who were brought before James II walked away. It was thought that Mr. Story had no chance of survival, because he would not embellish the truth in any manner, but would simply tell the whole truth so as not to offend God. His friends knew he would do this, even if it cost him his life.

The king said to him, "Well, Mr. Story, you were in Monmouth's army (an army set against the king), were you not?" "Yes, please your majesty." "And you were a commissary there, were you not?" "Yes, please your majesty." "Did you not preach and make speeches to the crowd?" "Yes, please your majesty." "Pray," said the king, "if you have not forgot what you said, let us have a taste of your florid speech: Give us some flowers of your rhetoric, and a few main points on which you insisted." "I told them, your majesty, that it was you that set fire to the City of of London." (He referred to the great fire which destroyed much of London) "What else did you tell them?" "I said you poisoned your brother, and that you were determined to make us all papists and slaves." The king granted him a full pardon.

Here is the example of one who would not lie, even when the temptation to do so meant the preservation of his life. Yet God, to whom all things are open and laid bare, saw, and Mr. Story was preserved. What a great encouragement to faithfulness the story of Mr. Story should be to us.

From Christian Fellowship Devotionals

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

TAKING SOME TIME OFF

I am taking some time off from the bog world..I leave you with these songs that give God all the glory. He who deserves Glory does not get what He deserves. By His grace we did not get what we deseve-HELL see you when I return.

Cristina

I NEED THEE EVER HOUR

Ineed Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.