January 5, 2009 7:37 AM
Sam wrote:
Are you a 'young girl from Israel'? When Naaman's wife was given one (a captive of the Arameans), the girl informed her that her husband, Naaman, should go to see a prophet in Samaria to be healed (of course, this prophet was the one and only Elisha). Well, if you know the story, or read 2nd Kings 5 this morning, you know that Naaman was indeed healed of his skin disease.
This story has been elaborated on many many times, and one of those elaborations has been the role the servant girl played. She was a catalyst who used her mouth to inform. And isn't that what we are to be doing? Speaking about Jesus, THE Prophet? Of course it is. SO, today, let your 'feminine side' shine through, and be a 'little jewish' and inform others of your conversion story and the love of Jesus. Let us all know how people responded. Reply to this
January 5, 2009 9:10 AM
rik wrote:
This warning to the rich seemed to come out of no where. I think James may have had a form of A.D.D(attention deficit disorder) because he seems to jump around a little. has a ton of passion for what he writes about. what do we have passion for? I often sing songs of praise, I enjoy singing to God.(I know I do not do it well to human ears, good thing God enjoys a joyful noise). every day I seem to loose interest in the things I used to find enjoyable, like sports and some secular music. I had my car radio on sports music this morning to work and I didn't feel like listening. I looked for a am station that might have a sermon on it. I did not find one, so I put it on the fish 104.7 and listen to some christiam music. the more time I spend in Gods word and in prayer the less I care about worldly things. this is a good thing I know. I just hope it will stay. Reply to this
January 5, 2009 9:21 AM
Johnbob wrote:
Right - where do you start with James 5? He touches on many things. So concerning the rich, he doesn't condemn being rich in and of itself, but rather those who do so at the expense of others and at the ignorance of the poor. I don't think the latter pertains to us necessarily, though I wonder if I am blind to this sometimes. Reply to this
January 5, 2009 9:34 AM
rik wrote:
James speaks of the evils they do with there money and what they do selfishly. Do we look to please ourselves first? do we use our money to gratify our own wants? I sold my boat and I am glad I did I also want to sell my motorcycle and pay all my mortgages off. have no debt what so ever. then use my money to help others. we are a vainly rich society. We all have massive excess. It is a difficult thing to get away from. I need to pray for the right heart when it comes to money and stuff that moth and rust can destroy.
I to look forward to our physical get together. Reply to this
January 5, 2009 9:26 AM
Johnbob wrote:
James 5:16 reminds us that prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. So how are your prayer lives? Mine is still not nearly where it needs to be, even though it is one of my 2 goals for this year. So seeing a scripture like this reminds me that I prayer is effective and powerful. Reply to this
January 5, 2009 9:40 AM
Tony wrote:
Could any of us persevere like Job did? I know I couldn't. The bible says God does not tempt us but satin does, all day long. Why would anyone put their children in a situation where they know they will have problems all day long? We are in a world overcome with evil and ill will towards one another, yet we are to preserver. Job lost his material goods, his finances, all 10 of his children at once, yet he praised the name of he Lord. Perseverance. We all hang in there (church) when life is going in the direction we think it should be going, but let calamity in, and out we go. 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him. When was the last time any of us did this? I know I do not do it near enough. Why do you think Elijah prayed for no rain? I am sure it was to prove a point, but what was the point, other than God is in control? I know I do not rely on God near as much as I should. I think God gave us abilities and a brain so we could figure things out, the bible for moral guidance, and fellowship because we cannot do it alone. Reply to this
January 5, 2009 10:07 AM
Tony wrote:
Naaman was told to do a simple thing and he went away angry. How simple is it for us to be cleansed of our sins yet we still get angry. We don't need to do some great and wondrous thing to make a difference. Think there is nothing but trash on tv, don't watch it. Think there is to much anger in the world, don't be part of it. Think God is taken out of to many conversations,put Him back in it. Change is a bunch of little simple things. Why do we make it so complex. Dip yourself in the river seven times verses some big complex ordeal, I would take the river. Don't commit adultery verses the lies and deceit trying to cover it up, I'll go with the first. Pornography, lust, anger,impure thoughts,smoking, drinking, they are all like leprosy. Some are harder to control than others but they are all mind over matter. God will intervene if we ask, but we must have faith when we ask. Reply to this
January 5, 2009 2:06 PM
daniel wrote:
i am currently in the aa 12 step program and this section relates really well, if you look at sobriety as money. it is our job as recovering individuals to help others(to give back what we have been freely given)this not only helps them but helps me to do gods will daily(freely you have recieved, freely give,matt10;8 Reply to this
January 5, 2009 4:06 PM
Johnbob wrote:
Welcome Daniel. Good points about 'recovering individuals' - we are all 'recovering' to an extent, not to belittle your experience or your fight for sobriety. I don't have an addiction to alcohol/drugs/etc., but I do have a strong sinful nature that I have to battle daily - most of the time I win, but when you peel back all the layers, I, like most men, am a sinner and have done some pretty dark things. So anyway, thanks for sharing. Reply to this
All please note that my son, Daniel, has blogged today (I will repeat this 'ad' tomorrow for those of you already done on this site for today.)
Dan has made his Dad super-proud. Battling a disease which has robbed him of so much of which God has to offer, he is now trusting Jesus to guide his life. He is 'new to this game', and has had limited 'church-schooling' (much like his Dad when I joined a church in 1996 and gave MY life to Christ). He HAS, however, found Jesus and is letting Him work in him. I am so proud of his accomplishments. As you know, I visited him recently in the center and my heart (and eyes) watered with gladness. Please welcome MY SON to a brand new and wonderful world!
January 5, 2009 7:10 PM
rik wrote:
Daniel, I am glad to see you in the blog. I look forward to getting to know you better. no man is an island, we are all here to help each other, join our band of brothers and see what God can do. stay consistent and open. we will be excited to see you grow. Reply to this
Are you a 'young girl from Israel'? When Naaman's wife was given one (a captive of the Arameans), the girl informed her that her husband, Naaman, should go to see a prophet in Samaria to be healed (of course, this prophet was the one and only Elisha). Well, if you know the story, or read 2nd Kings 5 this morning, you know that Naaman was indeed healed of his skin disease.
This story has been elaborated on many many times, and one of those elaborations has been the role the servant girl played. She was a catalyst who used her mouth to inform. And isn't that what we are to be doing? Speaking about Jesus, THE Prophet? Of course it is. SO, today, let your 'feminine side' shine through, and be a 'little jewish' and inform others of your conversion story and the love of Jesus. Let us all know how people responded.
Reply to this
This warning to the rich seemed to come out of no where. I think James may have had a form of A.D.D(attention deficit disorder) because he seems to jump around a little. has a ton of passion for what he writes about. what do we have passion for? I often sing songs of praise, I enjoy singing to God.(I know I do not do it well to human ears, good thing God enjoys a joyful noise). every day I seem to loose interest in the things I used to find enjoyable, like sports and some secular music. I had my car radio on sports music this morning to work and I didn't feel like listening. I looked for a am station that might have a sermon on it. I did not find one, so I put it on the fish 104.7 and listen to some christiam music. the more time I spend in Gods word and in prayer the less I care about worldly things. this is a good thing I know. I just hope it will stay.
Reply to this
Right - where do you start with James 5? He touches on many things. So concerning the rich, he doesn't condemn being rich in and of itself, but rather those who do so at the expense of others and at the ignorance of the poor. I don't think the latter pertains to us necessarily, though I wonder if I am blind to this sometimes.
Reply to this
James speaks of the evils they do with there money and what they do selfishly. Do we look to please ourselves first? do we use our money to gratify our own wants? I sold my boat and I am glad I did I also want to sell my motorcycle and pay all my mortgages off. have no debt what so ever. then use my money to help others. we are a vainly rich society. We all have massive excess. It is a difficult thing to get away from. I need to pray for the right heart when it comes to money and stuff that moth and rust can destroy.
I to look forward to our physical get together.
Reply to this
James 5:16 reminds us that prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. So how are your prayer lives? Mine is still not nearly where it needs to be, even though it is one of my 2 goals for this year. So seeing a scripture like this reminds me that I prayer is effective and powerful.
Reply to this
Could any of us persevere like Job did? I know I couldn't. The bible says God does not tempt us but satin does, all day long. Why would anyone put their children in a situation where they know they will have problems all day long? We are in a world overcome with evil and ill will towards one another, yet we are to preserver. Job lost his material goods, his finances, all 10 of his children at once, yet he praised the name of he Lord. Perseverance. We all hang in there (church) when life is going in the direction we think it should be going, but let calamity in, and out we go.
13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him. When was the last time any of us did this? I know I do not do it near enough. Why do you think Elijah prayed for no rain? I am sure it was to prove a point, but what was the point, other than God is in control? I know I do not rely on God near as much as I should. I think God gave us abilities and a brain so we could figure things out, the bible for moral guidance, and fellowship because we cannot do it alone.
Reply to this
Naaman was told to do a simple thing and he went away angry. How simple is it for us to be cleansed of our sins yet we still get angry. We don't need to do some great and wondrous thing to make a difference. Think there is nothing but trash on tv, don't watch it. Think there is to much anger in the world, don't be part of it. Think God is taken out of to many conversations,put Him back in it. Change is a bunch of little simple things. Why do we make it so complex. Dip yourself in the river seven times verses some big complex ordeal, I would take the river. Don't commit adultery verses the lies and deceit trying to cover it up, I'll go with the first. Pornography, lust, anger,impure thoughts,smoking, drinking, they are all like leprosy. Some are harder to control than others but they are all mind over matter. God will intervene if we ask, but we must have faith when we ask.
Reply to this
i am currently in the aa 12 step program and this section relates really well, if you look at sobriety as money. it is our job as recovering individuals to help others(to give back what we have been freely given)this not only helps them but helps me to do gods will daily(freely you have recieved, freely give,matt10;8
Reply to this
Welcome Daniel. Good points about 'recovering individuals' - we are all 'recovering' to an extent, not to belittle your experience or your fight for sobriety. I don't have an addiction to alcohol/drugs/etc., but I do have a strong sinful nature that I have to battle daily - most of the time I win, but when you peel back all the layers, I, like most men, am a sinner and have done some pretty dark things. So anyway, thanks for sharing.
Reply to this
God Is Good!!!
All please note that my son, Daniel, has blogged today (I will repeat this 'ad' tomorrow for those of you already done on this site for today.)
Dan has made his Dad super-proud. Battling a disease which has robbed him of so much of which God has to offer, he is now trusting Jesus to guide his life. He is 'new to this game', and has had limited 'church-schooling' (much like his Dad when I joined a church in 1996 and gave MY life to Christ). He HAS, however, found Jesus and is letting Him work in him. I am so proud of his accomplishments. As you know, I visited him recently in the center and my heart (and eyes) watered with gladness. Please welcome MY SON to a brand new and wonderful world!
Yes, God is good!
Reply to this
God gives us the desires of our hearts. Welcome aboard Danie.
Reply to this
Daniel, I am glad to see you in the blog. I look forward to getting to know you better. no man is an island, we are all here to help each other, join our band of brothers and see what God can do. stay consistent and open. we will be excited to see you grow.
Reply to this