ARE CREATURES AWARE OF GOD?


ARE CREATURES AWARE OF GOD?

Psalm 136:25 - He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.

Psalm 104:27 - All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.

Psalm 145:16 KJV - Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Ps. 145:21 NIV - "My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever." Creatures will praise his holy name forever?

Psalm 148:7-11 KJV - 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

Prov. 12:10 - The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

Eccl. 3:21- Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

Isaiah 34:14 - Desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and wild goats will bleat to each other; there the night creatures will also lie down and find for themselves places of rest.

Ezekiel 38:20 - The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.

Hosea 2:18 - In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.

Jeremiah 8:7 - Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.

Compiled by Becky Wall

INVISIBLE OLD PEOPLE


Just to make sure you know where I'm coming from, this is no reflection on my own kids at all. They are a big help to me. My thoughts are toward society in general, what I hear my elderly friends say, and what I have experienced myself by the actions of others outside of my family and friends.


INVISIBLE OLD PEOPLE

I've been alive since the late 40s. That indicates I am old. I have noticed a change in attitude toward the elderly since I was young. They are no longer treated special, helped, visited, respected, honored, and are no longer a source of advice or information. Even some churches ignore them. They may as well be invisible.

The Bible has a lot to say about how old people are to be treated. God doesn't make a big deal out of how they are treated just because He too is old. They simply have their place in His heart; he cares about how they are treated.

Family members don't seem to appreciate what their elderly grandma or grandpa had to say until that elderly predecessor dies. They don't appreciate what their parents or grandparents went through in life and wish they had asked more questions before they passed. I too wish that. They wish they hadn't been sassy or smart-aleck to their parents and/or grandparents when they were given advice. But when it's over, it's over. There's no going back and "fixing it."

Here's what God has to say about how old people are to be treated:
  • Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Ex. 20:12
  • Each of you must respect your mother and father... Lev. 19:3a
  • Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord. Lev. 19:32
  • Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Deut. 5:16
  • Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:12
  • It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right. Job 32:9
  • Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Ps. 71:18
  • My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
  • The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him." Ps. 92:12
  • Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Prov. 1:8
  • My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Prov. 6:20
  • Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. Prov. 16:31
  • A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him. Prov. 17:25
  • Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace. Prov. 19:26
  • Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Prov. 17:6
  • The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. Prov. 20:29
  • Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Prov. 23:22
  • May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! Prov. 23:25
  • Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys. Prov. 28:24
  • There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers; 12 those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; Prov. 30:11-12
  • The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures. Prov. 30:17
  • Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions. Eccl. 7:10 (Solomon, the author, is depressed when writing this. But this is a valid statement. People still talk about the olden days being better. I'm guilty myself.)  However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Ecclesiastes 11:8
  • Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4
  • Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 19:18
  • You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” Luke 18:20
  • I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." John 21:18
  • Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Eph. 6:1-3
  • Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. 3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. I Tim. 5:1-3
  • You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:2-5
  • Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. I Timothy 5:8 NIV
  • But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. I Timothy 5:8 KJV
--Compiled by Becky Wall
beckyowall.blogspot.com

All scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) Bible unless indicated otherwise.

#elderly #oldpeople #seniors #octogenerian #septuagenarian

THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH


THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH

Romans 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools..."

It is beyond my comprehension how some people can claim there is no God when the evidence is all around them in the tiniest details of every plant, every creature and man himself. It can be found in the atom, in radio waves and all over the place in science. Those who think of themselves as the great minds and geniuses think they are smarter than God, but who of them has created any part of nature? The sky? The universe? Other universes? The unknown? Who can make all things work together such as in the human body or the tilt of the earth? 

The "Big Bang" had no intellect or design capability. It doesn't care about such things as colors, talents, emotions or instincts. It doesn't hold things together to sustain life. It had/has no brain, heart, emotions or soul. God does, and He made man in His image. God knew the Earth was round and not flat as was believed by the greatest of minds for hundreds of years. He knew because He created it. It is mentioned in the Old Testament in Isaiah 40:22: "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers."

I Corinthians 1:18-29 - "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him."

2 Timothy 2:23 - "Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels."

Eph. 5:15-17 - "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."

Psalm 74:18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name.

Psalm 1:1-7 
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:8-19 
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
10 My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet rush into evil,
they are swift to shed blood.
17 How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush only themselves!
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.

Proverbs 2:1-11
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Proverbs 17:25  A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

Proverbs 29:11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.

Matthew 7: 24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Matthew 25:2-13 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”;

Titus 3:3  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER



HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER

Ex. 20:12 - “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

Lev. 19:3 - “Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God."

Deut. 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

Prov. 1:8 - "Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching."

Proverbs 1:10-19
My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet rush into evil,
they are swift to shed blood.
17 How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush only themselves!
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.

Prov. 6:20 - "My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching."

Prov. 17:25 - "A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him."

Prov. 19:26 - "Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace."

Ex. 21:17, Lev. 29:9 - "Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death."


Deut. 21:18-19 - "If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town."

Deut. 27:16 - “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.”

Eph. 6:2 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Col. 3:20 - "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. I Timothy 5:8
II Tim. 3:2 - "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,...

Rom. 1:29,30 - "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;...

CWBA


 
CWBA

Following my description of the founding and growing of CWBA, Christian Women's Benevolent Association, is a good article written by a then Senator about CWBA, an organization for which I worked part-time in 2000-2001 while a student and Dorm Mom at St. Louis Christian College, now closed. I was secretary to the President of CWBA. She too was only there part-time because of her age and health. While there, I was asked to write their history from records kept. Part 1 is my understanding of its history, though only the highlights. My part is followed by Senator Maria Nadal's article who wrote her part in 2012.

The first time I heard the name Christian Woman's Benevolent Association, my reaction was that it sounded like a sewing circle. As it turned out, it did begin as a sewing circle. Ladies from churches, particularly the Christian Church, made baby clothes for mothers with babies and who had no support. CWBA wouldn't be established until later years.

The Christian women then saw the need for housing for the mothers and their babies, so they obtained a house in 1899, probably donated, in which to provide a home for the mothers and their babies. (See photo) But then a plague came along and many of the babies died.

That revealed the need for a hospital, so they raised the funds, no doubt through churches, organizations and individuals, to build a hospital. It was called the Christian Hospital of St. Louis. Long story short, it is now Christian Northeast and Christian Northwest.

A need for a juvenile home became apparent, so in 1962 the Mothers and Babies Home was turned into an orphanage or Youth Home. It was discontinued in the 1980s, however.

Later they saw a need for an Old People's Home. It was eventually called the Christian Care Home that grew into the need for 180 beds. The board saw a need for a parent organization to oversee the hospital, the Mothers and Babies Home/Orphanage and the Old People's Home. They called it Christian Women's Benevolent Association or CWBA. They later built Harnett Christian Village, a home for Assisted Living residents.

All of this started with a group of ladies seeing a need and doing something about it. That is active Christianity provided by those who, once they saw the needs, assembled the work force that made these homes and the hospitals possible. And look what became of it: from a sewing circle to a Mothers and Babies Home to a hospital, to an orphanage, to an old people's home (180-bed Christian Care Home with 355 employees) then to an Assisted Living Home. Christian works, generated by love and caring, was combined with active, hands-on work. They saw a need and did something about it over and over.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The following article was written by Senator Maria Nadal in 2012:

The Christian Women's Benevolent Association (C.W.B.A.) has been tirelessly helping the area's poor, homeless, orphaned, elderly and needy families to survive and thrive since 1899. Although it no longer has an orphanage and its Christian hospitals are now under new management, these women with core beliefs in the teaching of Jesus Christ started a valuable and uniquely American tradition of taking care of those who are in need.

Here is a synopsis of the organizations history, described by the Christian Care Home in Ferguson:

"In 1899, a group of concerned women led by Fannie Hamilton Shedd Ayars organized efforts to care for impoverished mothers and their babies. A home for children from newborn to age two and their mothers was established called the Mothers and Babies Home.

In 1903, this same group of women recognized the need for more extensive medical care of the mothers and babies and established Christian Hospital of St Louis. While the hospital was opened with the needs of mothers and child specifically in mind, the hospital served people of all ages. Always looking for ways to help people in need, in 1911 these women opened the Christian Old People's Home.

Now with three facilities, in 1911 the women formalized their organization as the Christian Women's Benevolent Association (C.W.B.A.). The organization provided consultation as well as financial and spiritual guidance to the Mothers and Babies Home, Christian Hospital of St Louis, and the Christian Old People's Home.

The childrens' mission of the C.W.B.A. changed in 1962 to provide resident care for the wards of the juvenile court system of Metropolitan St. Louis. The Mothers and Babies Home was converted to C.W.B.A. Youth Home.

In 1975 a new facility for the Christian Old People's Home was built at 800 Chambers Road in Ferguson, Missouri. That same decade Christian Hospital of St. Louis was sold. Some of the proceeds from that sale were used by the C.W.B.A. to expand the Christian Old People's Home and to build new facilities for the Youth Home. This ministry was discontinued in the 1980's.

As we entered our second century of caring for the poor and the sick, C.W.B.A. embarked on building a new state-of-the-art facility to house both the Christian Care Home and Harnett Christian Village residents. The facility is licensed and certified by the state of Missouri. Residents receive around-the-clock care from an expert staff of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants."

LIVING WORDS TO HIDE IN YOUR HEART


LIVING WORDS TO HIDE IN YOUR HEART

God's Word is not meant to be a cafeteria-style book that collects dust. Even though it is a best seller, it is the least read and is rarely read cover-to-cover. Hearing the Word is also important, though the churches have become so diversified that the audiences are left with confusion instead of having one mind. And there's also the problem of the Word being "watered down." The subject of sin has become almost censored because it makes people feel bad and people want feel-good sermons nowadays. I have compiled a long list of verses that stress the importance of God's Word and how we are to store those verses in our hearts and brains.

“Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.’ Ex. 24:8” The Old Testament has not been retired. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Those are the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:17. The Old Testament teaches us what constitutes sin and how important it is to be obedient. It is like a master or teacher that, much like how a father on earth teaches his son as his son grows up. Then, when the son reaches maturity, he can make good decisions on his own. Jesus’s blood sealed the New Testament/Covenant and we are to abide by that covenant out of love and out of our own free will, not because we feel forced.

Because they have despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.’” Num. 15:31

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deut. 8:3

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Deut. 11:18

When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. Deut. 29:19

Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth. Deut. 32:1

Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. Deut. 32:2

Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!” Joshua 1:8

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. II Sam. 22:31

“Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” II Ki. 22:13

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. Neh. 8:12

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. Ps. 12:6

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. Ps. 18:30

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Ps. 33:4

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. Ps. 33:6

In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Ps. 56:4

Psalm 119 - the whole chapter

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. Ps. 119:9

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Ps. 119:11

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Ps. 119:16

Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. Ps. 119:17

…then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. Ps. 119:42

You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words. Ps. 119:57

Do good to your servant according to your word, Lord. Ps. 119:65

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. Ps. 119:67

My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. Ps. 119:81

Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Ps. 119:89

I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. Ps. 119:101

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Ps. 119:103

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Ps. 119:105

I have suffered much; preserve my life, Lord, according to your word. Ps. 119:107

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Ps. 119:114

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Ps. 119:30

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Ps. 119:133

My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. Ps. 119:139

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. Ps. 119:147

I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word. Ps. 119:158

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Ps. 119:160

Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word. Ps. 119:161

May my cry come before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word. Ps. 119:169

May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. Ps. 119:172

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. Ps. 130:5

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,

16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.
18 Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.
20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be torn from it. Prov. 2:1-12, 16-22

Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. Prov. 4:4

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Prov. 4:5

My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, Prov. 5:1

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Prov. 7:1

Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Prov. 19:27

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Prov. 30:5

Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Prov. 30:6

So then, the word of the Lord to them will become: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there— so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured. Isa. 28:13

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isa. 40:8

I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand— I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’” Isa. 51:16

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord. Isa. 59:21

Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. Isa. 66:2

Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word: “Your own people who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy!’ Yet they will be put to shame. Isa. 66:5

To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. Jer. 6:10

Hear, you earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law. Jer. 6:19

The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have? Jer. 8:9

These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless! Jer. 13:10

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. Jer. 15:16

But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jer. 20:9

“Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Jer. 23:29

“Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. Jer. 23:30

But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God. Jer. 23:36

Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ this is what the Lord says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ Jer. 23:38

“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. Jer. 30:2

My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Eze: 33:31

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Amos 8:11

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matt. 7:24

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. Matt. 7:26

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Matt. 10:14

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matt.24:35, Mark 13:31

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38

And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Lk. 1:20

As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. Lk. 6:47

But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Lk. 6:49

Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Lk. 9:26

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Lk. 21:33

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Jn. 6:63

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Jn. 6:68

“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.” Jn. 12:47-48

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Jn. 14:10

Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. Jn. 14:24

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Jn. 15:7

He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us. Acts 7:38

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. I Cor. 2:13

…because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. I Thess. 1:5

Therefore encourage one another with these words. I Thess. 4:18

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Rev. 1:3

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. Rev. 2:8

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. Rev. 2:12

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. Rev. 3:7

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. Rev. 3:14

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev. 21:5

Becky Wall
beckyowall.blogspot.com

MR. LUKE WARM




MR. LUKE B. WARM

    Once there was a man named Luke Warm. He loved the Lord, or so he said. He valued his time off work on Sundays so he didn't always go to church. Once in a while he would help out when asked, as long as it was something he didn't mind doing. 
    It was important to Luke to attend church on Easter and Christmas because he wanted to show the Lord how faithful he was. He dressed up in his finest clothes on those Sundays and sat with the elite. He sure didn't want to sit with the low class sinners.
    Mr. Warm thought about praying over his meals when he ate in a restaurant but was embarrassed that someone would see him. He always meant to pray over meals at home but he ate in front of the tv and he didn't want to miss anything on the news. Other times he would just forget.
    Mrs. Warm went along with what he did, as did the kids. He never gave their salvation a thought. He decided he would leave it up to them to choose whether or not they would go to church. After all, Luke didn't want to force it on them. 
    He kept up with the latest politics and laws and was quick to accept them above Bible teachings. He thought once laws were made, they became acceptable no matter what the Bible says. He never spoke up about right or wrong, however, because in his mind religion and politics didn't mix, and there was the separation of church and state law which he was in error to believe.
    Luke wanted to give a tithe to the church on Easter and at Christmas but he had already spent his money on bills, food for the holiday gatherings, and many presents.
    He thought about reading the Bible but someone was always around and he didn't want them to see him as a weak man or stuffy. Besides, he didn't understand much of it and reading made him sleepy.
    He knew a day of reckoning was coming but Luke Warm wasn't worried. After all, he was a good person and he knew God was a loving God and would welcome all good people into heaven whether or not they had a relationship with Him. 

Revelation 3:16 - So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. (KJV)

Revelation 3:16 - So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (NIV)

THE FORBIDDEN ALLOWED AND PRACTICES NOW UNNECESSARY




THE FORBIDDEN ALLOWED AND PRACTICES NOW UNNECESSARY

Why are forbidden foods and practices mentioned in Leviticus now allowed. Other practices such as sacrifices and scapegoats are no longer necessary. Communion and baptism have been added. 

Some suggest that homosexuality and lesbianism are among the practices now allowed, though lesbianism is not specifically mentioned in Leviticus. 

Most of the "laws" mentioned in Leviticus were preparations for ceremonial cleansing.­ There were, also, instructions for worship. Commandments of behavior, or moral laws, under which category homosexuality and other sexual immorality falls were considered sinful. Because the Israelites were "unclean" before God, who cannot look upon sin, they were required to cleanse themselves before approaching God's "house." God knew about germs and bacteria long before man, so even though the ceremonial cleansing was symbolic, the outward body was made clean.­ 

Still, both body and soul were only temporarily cleansed.­ This is why Christ came (Heb.­9:9-14).­ He became the priest (Heb.­2:17) and the atoning sacrifice (Heb.7:23-28). The rules of worship taught the Israelites the concepts of purity, obedience, and self-discipline and were analogies or symbols (prophetic acts) of things to come. For instance, pork, considered ceremonially unclean in the Old Testament, is symbolic of Gentiles, also considered unclean.­ Both are "made clean" by Christ in the New Testament. (Acts 10:9-28).­ 

At Christ's death, prophesies were fulfilled, and a new covenant was established (The New Testament).­ The physical acts of worship were replaced with spiritual acts of worship.­ Jesus declared all foods clean ­in Mark 7:19.­ The commandments of behavior, or moral laws, including homosexuality, beastiality, incest, etc., continued to be condemned in the New Testament (Rom.­ 1:24-27, I Cor. 6:9-10). As a  matter of fact, the Old Testament is where we learn what constitutes sin. It is our master, or teacher. The laws were followed because the people were required to follow them, like it or not. Jesus still wants us to follow the laws but because we want to please Him, not because we have to. It's much like the way things are with our parents. Growing up we do things they require because we have to. We stomp and stew and find ways to disobey those rules, but when we mature, we see the reasoning behind them and we want to follow those rules and we want our children to follow those rules too.

There is no longer a scapegoat upon which sins were placed back in Old Testament times. When Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb, the scapegoat was eliminated. The sins being carried by the scapegoat had been only temporarily forgiven. Jesus forgives sins permanently. 

As to the commandment of sacrificing on an altar, we no longer practice that commandment because Jesus became our sacrificial Lamb. He also became our High Priest. (Hebrews 3:1, 4:14-15, Heb. 5:1-10, Heb. 10:16-18))

He became our High Priest and is the only priest now required. Hebrews 7:12-22 says of the tribe of Levi "the former tribe" is set aside as priests because it was weak and useless. "12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.' 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant." Priests in the Old Testament were all descended from Levi, but Jesus was descended from Judah, so the law was changed at that point no longer requiring a priest to be descended from Levi and, in fact, no other priests but Jesus are required.

The baptisms performed by John the Baptist were for the repentance of sin only. Period. The end. But when Jesus had ascended into heaven, he left behind the Holy Spirit which each of us are given as his gift when we are baptized for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38)

--Becky Wall


THE SAGA OF MY MAID OF HONOR'S DRESS

 


THE SAGA OF MY MAID OF HONOR'S DRESS

This incident occurred in 1966 while I was working at Radio Station WMIX in Mt. Vernon, IL. The program was administered through the high school's Office Occupations program my Senior year. We went to school half a day then worked half a day. I was a secretary.

While at work, on my free time, I went to a bridal shop and picked out a mint green dress for my Maid of Honor to wear. I paid some on it each week until I finally got it paid off. The store clerk put the dress in a big, white box and I took it to work and put it in a big closet.

When I went to get the dress after work, the box was gone. I went to each of the guys and told them to give it up.I thought one of them was playing a prank on me. None of them knew anything about it. Then one of them mentioned that he saw it propped against the wall and thought it was empty so he put it against the trash can. Someone else added that the trash man had already been there, so I realized that's surely where it went. I was sick.

My fiance and I hopelessly went to the junk yard. It was huge with little fires burning here and there. We didn't spot a big white box so we left. We went to Mr. Kendricks's home. He was the owner of the trash truck. His home wasn't where it is now. It was on the poorer side of town whereas now he has a fine home. When his wife came to the door, we told her our predicament. She said her husband took his truckload to be compacted.

Our situation was going from bad to worse. We were getting ready to leave and here came Mr. Kendricks in his truck. He said he had taken the contents to be compacted but the business was closed. We told him the situation, then he reached in the back of the truck and pulled out a big, white box. The dress inside was unscathed. I was inwardly praising God. That would have been a little thing to God but it was a big, big thing to me, so He made sure the dress was spared. God is there for all things that make us anxious. We are to pray to Him about everything including every little thing.

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

--Becky Wall
beckyowall.blogspot.com

CHURCH GARDENS

 



CHURCH GARDENS

I have discovered some interesting similarities between the principles at work in nature and those that occur in the church.­ It helped me on more than one occasion to put things into perspective when problems in the church arose.

Every year there are those problems that vary from previous years. After pulling weeds in my yard for over 40 years now, I have come to realize that each year a different kind of weed invades the yard and tries to take over.­ Sometimes it is tricky to pull the weeds without hurting the flowers.­ Other times it is impossible.

I always think of weeds as the tares or chaff in the parables Jesus taught. ­Some were left to grow with the wheat, then were harvested along with the wheat, but were separated from the wheat by the wind.­ Others were thrown into the fire.­ The weeds in the parables represent the anti-Christ, or the unbelievers.­ Like the weeds in my flower garden, the "weeds" in the church are the problems caused by divisive people, people who are using the church for their own gain, those who are trying to lure people away from the church, etc. ­Every year we must deal with a different kind­ of problem.­ Weeds never go away; each year just brings a new variety of problems. Like the weeds, the problems will never leave us.­ When one is resolved, another will take its place.­ We must never grow weary in getting "to the root" of the problems so that they are eradicated, never to return, because we sure don't need those problems in addition to the next batch that is sure to come.

Quite often I find among my beautiful flowers a weed pretending to be one of the flowers. Its leaves look the same but it eventually outgrows the plants. That's when I realize it needs to be pulled. The church is also scattered with those who are pretenders or fakers. They fake being a devout Christian but may have ulterior motives or may use their label to gain prestige. The Bible instructs us to expel that person. I Corinthians 5:11-13 says: But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

I once had a flower garden in the shape of a square. In the center was a birdbath.­ Around the birdbath I planted a row of silver-colored, non-blooming plants called Dusty Millers, then a row of burgundy and white striped petunias, then another row of Dusty Millers, then in the outside row I planted a row of solid burgundy petunias.­ While the heavy rains that caused the Mississippi to flood were wreaking havoc an hour away from us, the abundance of rain was making my flowers grow bigger and more plush than they had been for many years.­ But among the beautiful burgundy-colored petunias sprang some moss rose that came up volunteer.­ I had planted moss rose in that spot the year before, but the blossoms didn't stay open throughout the day, so I had limited enjoyment from them.­ Nevertheless, there was something about those flowers having the fortitude to make a comeback.­ The colors -- orange, yellow, and red -- clashed with the burgundy petunias, they looked out of place, and their beauty was limited to short periods of time, but I didn't have the heart to pull them up.­ I mean, who can complain about a volunteer. It is so hard to get volunteers in the church, and sometimes the help comes from some of the most unlikely people.

A problem I that has arisen in recent years is that the deer and squirrels have been eating my blossoming plants. The deer favor my yellow blooming Hibiscus. It's more rare than the red and orange Hibiscus plants, but that's the one the deer pick on. Recently, I got to enjoy the first bloom only before it was eaten. Satan likes to destroy any plans we may have to introduce people to Jesus. He picks on the rare one doing the most to build the church as a congregation and to keep the building presentable and functional. That may be the pastor himself, an elder or deacon or even a member of the congregation. Or a whole family. So, that person(s) deals with all kinds of hardships. Back to the deer and the yellow Hibiscus, what the deer doesn't realize and doesn't really care is that he is pruning the plant, which will make it fuller and more "fruitful" or high-yielding. I put out solar lights that appear to be flaming hoping that would scare the deer away but deer - 1, me - 0. But I refuse to give up. Hopefully the church's hardest workers, both in the "harvest" and in the building, won't give up either.

Following is a poem I wrote about the harvest, which in the Bible refers to edible plants like wheat and not blossoming flowers, but the moral to the story is the same. Some people will thrive in the church, some will give up, some just don't "get it," some get overtaken by doubt as a result of problems that arise in their lives.

HARVEST  TIME
(Based on Matt. 13:3-7, 18-29)

A sower planted the gospel seed,
In the minds of several men.
When his work was done, he waited,
To see what would happen then.

The seed in the mind of the first man,
Was eaten by a bird.
The buzzard’s name was Satan,
And the seed he ate was God’s Word.

The seed in the mind of the second man,
Sprouted, but soon was dead.
No wonder the gospel seed withered;
For the man had rocks in his head.

The seed in the mind of the third man,
Also began to sprout,
But troubles and trials came on him,
And the seed was choked by doubt.

On that day when the reaper comes,
Will fruit be on my vine?
Or will I be treated like chaff?
Which harvest will be mine?

Becky Wall

Epilogue: The deer and I challenged each other all summer. I live in the middle of town. The deer comes through the alley late at night. The deer kept winning, no matter what I tried: solar lights, then flaming solar lights, then a stare-down, then a dust around the plants that was supposed to keep the deer away. But then it rained that night washing the dust away. Finally I put a trellis on the side of the biggest pot, facing the deer so he couldn't get to the plant. My son happened to be at my house mowing my lawn when I exclaimed "I won, I won." I outsmarted the deer. He said, "Mom, the deer pooped on your front sidewalk." I didn't solve the problem this year but I'm ready for next year.

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SCRIPTURES FOR OFFERING/TITHING WORSHIP TIME

SCRIPTURES FOR TITHING/OFFERING WORSHIP TIME Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your ...