Hello there? Hope you are well and enjoying life as it should be.
I should say am slightly caught up on this. I wish to have a clear understanding of how this three aspects of a human being exist together yet function at different capacities.
I would love to know and understand what the Body really is, the soul and whether the Spirit is a spirit or the Spirit of God.
I welcome your comments in assisting in this thought process.
Feel free to higlight a point you know is worth noting and even that which you've known but never put it down.
Go ahead and even write to me what you are thinking as of now, and i will look into all you have to say, and put up one article that will debate and highlight the topic more clearer.
Thank you and God bless you.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Do i have to lift my hands up in worship sessions?
1Timothy 2
8 In every *place of worship, I want men to pray with *holy hands lifted up to God, free from *anger and controversy.
9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance.* They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. 11 Women should learn quietly and submissively. 12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them.* Let them listen quietly. 13 For God made Adam first and afterward he made Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing,* assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.
Paul writing to Timothy a pastor, is here giving instructions on several matters. He gets to this instance in verse 8 and to me says something funny. He says, I want [desire, wish, and advice]. In other words, it is not a must to raise hands in worship. It is not a sign of the level of your deepness with God. It is an act of worship though. All the same, what do hands have to do with anger and controversy? We will probably break this out by the end.
He begins by talking of the place of worship.
Place of Worship.
It will be good to note that when the scripture says place of worship, it refers not to a specified place on earth. It is simply put- ‘every place of worship.’
The true place of worship, the most Holy place is in Heaven.
Hebrews 8:1, 2
1 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. 2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle,* the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.
In this study, it will be good to understand that we are referring to the place of worship and not the art of worship or the means of worshipping or the true place of worship.
The place of worship where men congregate to fellowship and minister to each other is built by human hands. Solomon built a temple for God. Moses built a tabernacle. We all come from different churches that have buildings for worship. All this places of worship are recognized by God if they are dedicated to Him. All in all, a place of worship is the setting of worship. When do you worship? In good times, bad times or both.
Hebrews 9:1
1 That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship *here on earth.
Holy Hands.
I think to begin with, that it is kind of natural to raise our hands upwards during worship. It is a sign of surrender and total dependence on God. It was an old testament practice.
Ezra 9:5
5 At the time of the sacrifice, I stood up from where I had sat in mourning with my clothes torn. I fell to my knees and *lifted my hands to the Lord my God.
At times it is a feeling of; I wish I could just touch you, feel you, embrace you and have you here with me physically. All in all, there are conditions for this.
Think of it. Hands are a point of contact. Give your contact number, person etc are terms we use very much. Contact with people, food, objects among others.
How much care do we give our hands? Wash them, manicure, oil them, and wear gloves in cold seasons. But God looks not at the point of contact hand, but the point of contact with Him our hearts.
Psalm 24
4 Only those whose hands and *hearts are pure, [Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.] Who *do not worship idols and *never tell lies. [Revelation 22:15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.]
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Anger and controversy.
How many are the times we blame anger for the actions we take in our life? We send a bad SMS out of anger, we end a relationship out of anger, we kill out of anger and the list goes on and on. Anger is a state of irritation. A strong feeling of annoyance and lack of sympathy. This leads to broken relationships.
Controversy on the other hand is a state of public disagreement. The appointment of Mr. Ringera has raised a lot of controversy in the country.
God wants us to be men of sound relationships, not characterized by anger or disputing. Broken relationships affect our ability to connect with God.
Proverbs 27:4
4 *Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.
Guard your heart for out of it, flows the issues of life. If your heart is okay with God, there will be no anger, disputes, and your hands will bring a feeling of inner peace whenever you raise them.
8 In every *place of worship, I want men to pray with *holy hands lifted up to God, free from *anger and controversy.
9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance.* They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. 11 Women should learn quietly and submissively. 12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them.* Let them listen quietly. 13 For God made Adam first and afterward he made Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing,* assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.
Paul writing to Timothy a pastor, is here giving instructions on several matters. He gets to this instance in verse 8 and to me says something funny. He says, I want [desire, wish, and advice]. In other words, it is not a must to raise hands in worship. It is not a sign of the level of your deepness with God. It is an act of worship though. All the same, what do hands have to do with anger and controversy? We will probably break this out by the end.
He begins by talking of the place of worship.
Place of Worship.
It will be good to note that when the scripture says place of worship, it refers not to a specified place on earth. It is simply put- ‘every place of worship.’
The true place of worship, the most Holy place is in Heaven.
Hebrews 8:1, 2
1 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. 2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle,* the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.
In this study, it will be good to understand that we are referring to the place of worship and not the art of worship or the means of worshipping or the true place of worship.
The place of worship where men congregate to fellowship and minister to each other is built by human hands. Solomon built a temple for God. Moses built a tabernacle. We all come from different churches that have buildings for worship. All this places of worship are recognized by God if they are dedicated to Him. All in all, a place of worship is the setting of worship. When do you worship? In good times, bad times or both.
Hebrews 9:1
1 That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship *here on earth.
Holy Hands.
I think to begin with, that it is kind of natural to raise our hands upwards during worship. It is a sign of surrender and total dependence on God. It was an old testament practice.
Ezra 9:5
5 At the time of the sacrifice, I stood up from where I had sat in mourning with my clothes torn. I fell to my knees and *lifted my hands to the Lord my God.
At times it is a feeling of; I wish I could just touch you, feel you, embrace you and have you here with me physically. All in all, there are conditions for this.
Think of it. Hands are a point of contact. Give your contact number, person etc are terms we use very much. Contact with people, food, objects among others.
How much care do we give our hands? Wash them, manicure, oil them, and wear gloves in cold seasons. But God looks not at the point of contact hand, but the point of contact with Him our hearts.
Psalm 24
4 Only those whose hands and *hearts are pure, [Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.] Who *do not worship idols and *never tell lies. [Revelation 22:15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.]
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Anger and controversy.
How many are the times we blame anger for the actions we take in our life? We send a bad SMS out of anger, we end a relationship out of anger, we kill out of anger and the list goes on and on. Anger is a state of irritation. A strong feeling of annoyance and lack of sympathy. This leads to broken relationships.
Controversy on the other hand is a state of public disagreement. The appointment of Mr. Ringera has raised a lot of controversy in the country.
God wants us to be men of sound relationships, not characterized by anger or disputing. Broken relationships affect our ability to connect with God.
Proverbs 27:4
4 *Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.
Guard your heart for out of it, flows the issues of life. If your heart is okay with God, there will be no anger, disputes, and your hands will bring a feeling of inner peace whenever you raise them.
Christianity and fun.
CHRISTIANITY.
It’s the religion based on the belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the belief in His teachings.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…
FUN.
A state of enjoyment and pleasure.
CHRISTIANITY AND FUN.
Christianity in simpler terms is living a life that is christlike and a life that is worthy the calling of God in our lives.
By calling I mean not the call to being a minister of the word in the ‘preachers’ sense, but simply the calling to holiness and righteousness in every persons life.
Leviticus 19:2 – Say this to the entire community of Israel: You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
Holiness – Being one with God in mind, heart and spirit. Sanctity or purity.
Righteousness – Being right with God. Living by a divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin.
Christianity is fun and is supposed to be fun. Fun, the state of enjoyment and pleasure is only achievable in a state of free will. When one is enjoying liberty, he or she is more likely to have more fun than one who is under pressure and stress.
All in all, when it comes to matters of faith, which I believe in, we can have fun even in the hardest of all situations. I can have fun when am on a hospital bed, I can have fun when my finances are not working out, I can have fun in times of drought and famine, we can have fun in whatever situation we are in.
Fun can be expressed outwardly only, but we can have a private expression inside us in special situations. My dad passed away in 1996 November 22nd.
Last Sunday, 13th September 2009, an old friend of my dad asks me how dad is doing. I am supposed to be irritated, cause a scene, and cry out loud. All in all, I laugh out loud and say ‘he is doing well in heaven.’
Fun is a choice we make for ourselves. That state of enjoyment and pleasure is only achievable if we choose to enjoy it. Fun will always be available. It is like a big cake which some of us have a bite, others have bigger bites than others while God wants you to have the whole of it. Fun will never be served to us, neither is it something we are going to order for- like in a hotel.
Just as it is a cake, we have to cook it. The opposite of fun is stress.
It is easy to have ‘fun’ in a group, but do we have fun by ourselves?
I will look into several aspects that help you loose the sense of fun in life bit by bit as a Christian. This will help you see things us God sees them and eventually you will reduce the things that stress you out.
Our appearances.
1 Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.”
It is not bad to look good at all. But your appearance should not determine who you are, how you feel, your health or success. The Lord is more concerned about your heart. If you HEART is in tune with God, there is nothing to HURT you.
How many are the times you take more unnecessary time thinking of how you look even when you look good? Late for classes and meetings because you think you don’t look good, or dressed appropriately? All you need to look good is a nice top, pants or skirts, shoes, and a smile for yourself and you are good to go. You need to take life easy simply because it is meant to be easy and fun. God is more concerned of how you look within and not without.
Our wants.
Psalm 23:1 – The lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.
Godliness with contentment is of great gain. Your needs are enough to keep you going and enjoy life. Your wants are more than enough and they end up thrusting you into more stress and at times unnecessary effort. Make plans, set goals, but always work within your means.
When you measure your success by how much you have of what you want or how close you are to getting it, you become a slave to your wants. Ultimately your wants or desires become your shepherd and not the lord.
If you allow the Lord to be your shepherd, and you have all you need, then fun is been completed.
Results.
Genesis 41:38 – As they discussed who should be appointed for the Job, Pharaoh said, “Who could do it better than Joseph? For he is a man who is obviously filled with the spirit of God.”
Joseph’s life is not the best. Always on the watch out, attacked by wild animals, thrown into a dry well, sold out, accused of attempted rape. Thrown into jail… finally dead. On the other hand, he is the most loved son, the most trusted, gifted and he is handsome, a great manager and a dream interpreter. His life had both ups and downs.
Most are the times you seek the goals and miss out on the fun. You seek no broken relationship, no lost money, no dead loved one, no… and we end up missing out on the fun of life seeking results. Life will always have its mishaps. You need to know that, know how to break walls and not always try to jump over them.
Joseph sure did have some adventure of hiding on trees from wild animals, travelling the world on free transport, entering a state prison and the list could be longer. The fun in a journey is not really in getting there, but on the way you get there. A plane traveler pays more than a road traveler, and the road traveler sees more, meets with more people and finally gets to the destination.
Results are good. But if they are achieved at the expense of you enjoying life, then they are not worth it at all.
Time.
Matthew 6:34 – “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Life is short and time isn’t much for you. It is always said that yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future and today is a gift. That is why it is called the present. Have you ever noticed that 24 hours are never enough for a day?
Man has a specified time on earth and once it is done with, there is no second chance. Our days are numbered. How it is important for you to make the best of every minute you have. It could be minute, but you don’t have the time to let that minute pass by with no fun. Develop a wiper mentality. There are small things that come on your life to lower your chances of having fun and enjoying life. A cough, headache, tomorrow, and other small ache’s in your life. Every minute of your life should count. Choose to be happy every minute and to brush of things that don’t count in your life. Ignore the small demons that try landing on your life’s car screen. Wipe them off, keep your eyes on the road and progress on. Have fun, enjoy life.
Hate.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – So these three things continue forever: faith, hope and love. And the greatest of this is love.
Love is one of the things in this world that is used most, but most have missed it purpose. Love is the Little Object Valued Eternally. Eternity has no end. And that is how love should be. No end, no conditions, no limitations, no second thoughts among others. Paul in 1Corinthians 13 highlights the love for God to you very well. You need to take it up and love the same way.
You should love enough not to hate. Love your neighbor as yourself. Many are the times we miss out too much fun because of hate. How much do you love your neighbor, friend, parents, and me?
Story of my grandma who loves spaghetti but not enough to eat it.
Fear.
Joshua 1:9 – Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you GO.
Fear is the total opposite of faith. Fear keeps you stack and with no experience to enjoy. Many are the times opportunities come to us, but we fear to even take it up. God knew life won’t be easy. That is why the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Helper. He has an out way for you for whatever situation you are in. there is nothing you are going to face in this world that God has not taken another person through. The will of God won’t take you where his wheel hasn’t rolled in the past.
Joshua was told God will be with him everywhere he goes. Not where he chooses to hide. You need to go in your life. Fear does not allow you to make a move. You are stack with fear. You need to move and then experience God’s back up in your life. He loves you so much, that before you even think of making a move, He already has a backup plan for you. Trust Him, do not fear. Move and experience the fun of God been on your side. This calls for faith in God as well. We look at that in the next point on faithfulness.
Faithfulness.
2 Timothy 1:7 – God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power, love and self control.
Been full of faith is a very important factor in your life. There are degrees of life where you cannot have fun unless you involve God to the extent that He is the only one who knows the final outcome. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to have faith in God as they were been taken to the fire. Only God knew the outcome of that situation.
Been full of faith is simply letting go and allowing God to be fully incharge. The truth is that it is not easy if your walk in God is not right. RIGHTEOUSNESS. When you are full of faith, the spiritual world is more a reality than the physical world we leave in. True heroes of faith are not the ones who knew the outcome of their situations but left it to God to decide. All in all, they plunged into situations head on knowing God is in control.
Hope.
HOPE: Holding On Past Expectation
Hebrews 6:18, 19 – These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when He makes a promise, and He cannot lie when He makes an oath. These things encourage us who came to God for safety. They give us strength to hold on to the HOPE we have been given. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong. It enters behind the curtain in the Most Holy place in heaven.
Been hopeful is not just having a positive attitude towards life. It goes higher to the level where no matter what happens, you trust God has a plan that always works out for your good. God is not a liar. All His promises for your life will verily come to be. While others are giving up and turning back you go on past the expectation. Hold on past the expected in everything you do. Go the extra mile. God is on your side.
Jesus went up in heaven for two main agendas: To prepare a place for you, and to intercede for you. Even when you feel out of place, know there is a place for you. The HOPE of eternity. When you can’t pray, He’s on it on your behalf.
I personally have fun knowing that am not waiting for the day I will die, but the day I will walk out alive because there is a place prepared for Map.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, fun in Christianity is only achievable if we choose to go all the way into the things of God. God instructs us in scripture not to be lukewarm. Neither hot nor cold.
Real fun in anything in life is found only when you give the very thing your all.
Give God your all and life will be fun for you as a Christian.
Ecclesiastes 8:15
So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.
It was much fun for me preparing this, cause I learned a lot, and I believe it was fun for you reading through. God bless you and do have fun even after this.
Hala!
It’s the religion based on the belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the belief in His teachings.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…
FUN.
A state of enjoyment and pleasure.
CHRISTIANITY AND FUN.
Christianity in simpler terms is living a life that is christlike and a life that is worthy the calling of God in our lives.
By calling I mean not the call to being a minister of the word in the ‘preachers’ sense, but simply the calling to holiness and righteousness in every persons life.
Leviticus 19:2 – Say this to the entire community of Israel: You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
Holiness – Being one with God in mind, heart and spirit. Sanctity or purity.
Righteousness – Being right with God. Living by a divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin.
Christianity is fun and is supposed to be fun. Fun, the state of enjoyment and pleasure is only achievable in a state of free will. When one is enjoying liberty, he or she is more likely to have more fun than one who is under pressure and stress.
All in all, when it comes to matters of faith, which I believe in, we can have fun even in the hardest of all situations. I can have fun when am on a hospital bed, I can have fun when my finances are not working out, I can have fun in times of drought and famine, we can have fun in whatever situation we are in.
Fun can be expressed outwardly only, but we can have a private expression inside us in special situations. My dad passed away in 1996 November 22nd.
Last Sunday, 13th September 2009, an old friend of my dad asks me how dad is doing. I am supposed to be irritated, cause a scene, and cry out loud. All in all, I laugh out loud and say ‘he is doing well in heaven.’
Fun is a choice we make for ourselves. That state of enjoyment and pleasure is only achievable if we choose to enjoy it. Fun will always be available. It is like a big cake which some of us have a bite, others have bigger bites than others while God wants you to have the whole of it. Fun will never be served to us, neither is it something we are going to order for- like in a hotel.
Just as it is a cake, we have to cook it. The opposite of fun is stress.
It is easy to have ‘fun’ in a group, but do we have fun by ourselves?
I will look into several aspects that help you loose the sense of fun in life bit by bit as a Christian. This will help you see things us God sees them and eventually you will reduce the things that stress you out.
Our appearances.
1 Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.”
It is not bad to look good at all. But your appearance should not determine who you are, how you feel, your health or success. The Lord is more concerned about your heart. If you HEART is in tune with God, there is nothing to HURT you.
How many are the times you take more unnecessary time thinking of how you look even when you look good? Late for classes and meetings because you think you don’t look good, or dressed appropriately? All you need to look good is a nice top, pants or skirts, shoes, and a smile for yourself and you are good to go. You need to take life easy simply because it is meant to be easy and fun. God is more concerned of how you look within and not without.
Our wants.
Psalm 23:1 – The lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.
Godliness with contentment is of great gain. Your needs are enough to keep you going and enjoy life. Your wants are more than enough and they end up thrusting you into more stress and at times unnecessary effort. Make plans, set goals, but always work within your means.
When you measure your success by how much you have of what you want or how close you are to getting it, you become a slave to your wants. Ultimately your wants or desires become your shepherd and not the lord.
If you allow the Lord to be your shepherd, and you have all you need, then fun is been completed.
Results.
Genesis 41:38 – As they discussed who should be appointed for the Job, Pharaoh said, “Who could do it better than Joseph? For he is a man who is obviously filled with the spirit of God.”
Joseph’s life is not the best. Always on the watch out, attacked by wild animals, thrown into a dry well, sold out, accused of attempted rape. Thrown into jail… finally dead. On the other hand, he is the most loved son, the most trusted, gifted and he is handsome, a great manager and a dream interpreter. His life had both ups and downs.
Most are the times you seek the goals and miss out on the fun. You seek no broken relationship, no lost money, no dead loved one, no… and we end up missing out on the fun of life seeking results. Life will always have its mishaps. You need to know that, know how to break walls and not always try to jump over them.
Joseph sure did have some adventure of hiding on trees from wild animals, travelling the world on free transport, entering a state prison and the list could be longer. The fun in a journey is not really in getting there, but on the way you get there. A plane traveler pays more than a road traveler, and the road traveler sees more, meets with more people and finally gets to the destination.
Results are good. But if they are achieved at the expense of you enjoying life, then they are not worth it at all.
Time.
Matthew 6:34 – “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Life is short and time isn’t much for you. It is always said that yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future and today is a gift. That is why it is called the present. Have you ever noticed that 24 hours are never enough for a day?
Man has a specified time on earth and once it is done with, there is no second chance. Our days are numbered. How it is important for you to make the best of every minute you have. It could be minute, but you don’t have the time to let that minute pass by with no fun. Develop a wiper mentality. There are small things that come on your life to lower your chances of having fun and enjoying life. A cough, headache, tomorrow, and other small ache’s in your life. Every minute of your life should count. Choose to be happy every minute and to brush of things that don’t count in your life. Ignore the small demons that try landing on your life’s car screen. Wipe them off, keep your eyes on the road and progress on. Have fun, enjoy life.
Hate.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – So these three things continue forever: faith, hope and love. And the greatest of this is love.
Love is one of the things in this world that is used most, but most have missed it purpose. Love is the Little Object Valued Eternally. Eternity has no end. And that is how love should be. No end, no conditions, no limitations, no second thoughts among others. Paul in 1Corinthians 13 highlights the love for God to you very well. You need to take it up and love the same way.
You should love enough not to hate. Love your neighbor as yourself. Many are the times we miss out too much fun because of hate. How much do you love your neighbor, friend, parents, and me?
Story of my grandma who loves spaghetti but not enough to eat it.
Fear.
Joshua 1:9 – Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you GO.
Fear is the total opposite of faith. Fear keeps you stack and with no experience to enjoy. Many are the times opportunities come to us, but we fear to even take it up. God knew life won’t be easy. That is why the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Helper. He has an out way for you for whatever situation you are in. there is nothing you are going to face in this world that God has not taken another person through. The will of God won’t take you where his wheel hasn’t rolled in the past.
Joshua was told God will be with him everywhere he goes. Not where he chooses to hide. You need to go in your life. Fear does not allow you to make a move. You are stack with fear. You need to move and then experience God’s back up in your life. He loves you so much, that before you even think of making a move, He already has a backup plan for you. Trust Him, do not fear. Move and experience the fun of God been on your side. This calls for faith in God as well. We look at that in the next point on faithfulness.
Faithfulness.
2 Timothy 1:7 – God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power, love and self control.
Been full of faith is a very important factor in your life. There are degrees of life where you cannot have fun unless you involve God to the extent that He is the only one who knows the final outcome. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to have faith in God as they were been taken to the fire. Only God knew the outcome of that situation.
Been full of faith is simply letting go and allowing God to be fully incharge. The truth is that it is not easy if your walk in God is not right. RIGHTEOUSNESS. When you are full of faith, the spiritual world is more a reality than the physical world we leave in. True heroes of faith are not the ones who knew the outcome of their situations but left it to God to decide. All in all, they plunged into situations head on knowing God is in control.
Hope.
HOPE: Holding On Past Expectation
Hebrews 6:18, 19 – These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when He makes a promise, and He cannot lie when He makes an oath. These things encourage us who came to God for safety. They give us strength to hold on to the HOPE we have been given. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong. It enters behind the curtain in the Most Holy place in heaven.
Been hopeful is not just having a positive attitude towards life. It goes higher to the level where no matter what happens, you trust God has a plan that always works out for your good. God is not a liar. All His promises for your life will verily come to be. While others are giving up and turning back you go on past the expectation. Hold on past the expected in everything you do. Go the extra mile. God is on your side.
Jesus went up in heaven for two main agendas: To prepare a place for you, and to intercede for you. Even when you feel out of place, know there is a place for you. The HOPE of eternity. When you can’t pray, He’s on it on your behalf.
I personally have fun knowing that am not waiting for the day I will die, but the day I will walk out alive because there is a place prepared for Map.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, fun in Christianity is only achievable if we choose to go all the way into the things of God. God instructs us in scripture not to be lukewarm. Neither hot nor cold.
Real fun in anything in life is found only when you give the very thing your all.
Give God your all and life will be fun for you as a Christian.
Ecclesiastes 8:15
So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.
It was much fun for me preparing this, cause I learned a lot, and I believe it was fun for you reading through. God bless you and do have fun even after this.
Hala!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Service to God or Men.
Quick question.
Should we serve God to please men, or serve men to please God? Which is of utmost priority?
Comments
Dennis Dave Mulinge - None of the above...we should serve God to please Him and only Him.
Christine Muchemi - What the almighty says is the ultimate so we should serve men to please him.
Julius Muli - to Dennis and Christine you are very right.
Dennis Musyimi - it's God alone. Everything else to do with men is useless. Please God and God alone.
Rebecca Nzilani Musyoki - Good question! Servin men does please God but am not quite sure servin God to please men works for Him. But when it comes to service your heart's intent matters alot.
Should we serve God to please men, or serve men to please God? Which is of utmost priority?
Comments
Dennis Dave Mulinge - None of the above...we should serve God to please Him and only Him.
Christine Muchemi - What the almighty says is the ultimate so we should serve men to please him.
Julius Muli - to Dennis and Christine you are very right.
Dennis Musyimi - it's God alone. Everything else to do with men is useless. Please God and God alone.
Rebecca Nzilani Musyoki - Good question! Servin men does please God but am not quite sure servin God to please men works for Him. But when it comes to service your heart's intent matters alot.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Relationships
When the bible says that ' he who finds a wife finds a good thing, ' Proverbs 18:22.
Am left with two questions in my mind.
1. How many ladies do we have in our world today possess the qualities of a wife, even before getting a man?
2. How many 'He's' are really worthy of a good wife?
Am left with two questions in my mind.
1. How many ladies do we have in our world today possess the qualities of a wife, even before getting a man?
2. How many 'He's' are really worthy of a good wife?
Sunday, October 18, 2009
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRENGTH AND COURAGE
It takes strength to be firm.
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard.
It takes strength to conquer
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to hide feelings.
It takes courage to show them.
It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.
"....as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage...." (Joshua 1:5b-6a)
- Author Unknown
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard.
It takes strength to conquer
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to hide feelings.
It takes courage to show them.
It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.
"....as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage...." (Joshua 1:5b-6a)
- Author Unknown
ONCE UPON A TIME..........
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.
What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:
There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray.
Be assured you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.
The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.
The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital , and she returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's mainIngredient: The Chicken.
But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.
To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.
So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.
We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.
What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:
There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray.
Be assured you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.
The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.
The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital , and she returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's mainIngredient: The Chicken.
But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.
To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.
So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.
We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.
The Stage.
Ever come to a point in your life and realized that there are things which only you can do? Not in the aspect of trying to stand out, but if you don't do it, nobody else will, and if they do, the results will be poor.
At the same time, you have the heart, right attitude and the ability, but your resources are limited. Even then, the little you have, put it into use and you will realize that small things are great.
You are not destined for greatness - you are the greatness itself.
At the same time, you have the heart, right attitude and the ability, but your resources are limited. Even then, the little you have, put it into use and you will realize that small things are great.
You are not destined for greatness - you are the greatness itself.
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