...as of news just two hours ago, now 2300 "marriages"...

Oklahoma Howdy to Symphony,

Brother, I think that a more accurate description would be 2300 contracts with the devil. "Marriage" is a Holy term, and that in reality is why the gays want legal marriage. I can only assume that, to them, would mean acceptance before God. We all know that isn't going to happen, not now and not ever.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Cardtricks,

I sincerely hope you enjoy Christians Unite.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Aliesh,

I sincerely hope you enjoy Christians Unite.

Jump in and have some fun.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Chris,

You are 100% right. Christians are not immune from crisis in this short life, and we all need encouragement from time to time even if we are yielded to Christ. We will have illness and death in these weak bodies, and we may have some family events that break our hearts. We know that Jesus is always with us, but it definitely helps to have other brothers and sisters in Christ to pray with us and share our burdens.

Chris, you made an excellent point, one that we should all remember.

Love In Christ,
Tom

AMEN!

We should find the love and compassion of Christ in each one of HIS children. I firmly believe that God gives his children opportunities to serve HIM in many ways. I'm sorry to say that many of HIS children make an excuse of some sort and go their merry way. It isn't easy to help people with such complex needs, but I know that God will give us what we need to try. There is a feeling of joy and peace when we yield to God and take advantage of the opportunities he gives us.

You are right that what we need might not be in the devotionals. What we need to help others should be in our hearts. Love and compassion don't take a string of degrees, just the heart of a Christian. That may also be the opportunity to offer prayer, share the Holy Bible, and do what a Christian is supposed to do.

I view devotionals to be little extras that you do in addition to your regular Bible Study. I many times get ideas for more in-depth studies I would like to do from the devotionals. For the lost, nothing replaces personal time spent with that person, but some won't permit it. A good tool for those is a well-done Bible tract that addresses Salvation. Maybe they will read it, but they might also throw it down on the ground. I have faith that God will use that Bible tract. Maybe the person who picks it up will read it. However, people in crisis are more likely to be open to listening, and this is an opportunity that should be used by God's children.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Reba,

Sister, you are most welcome.

God's children need the armor of God more and more every day. I love the portion of Scripture you quoted. I feel sorry for many children today who are not brought up in the things of the Lord. It appears to have become popular to hunt Christians. Those with the stronger faith will stand and be able to resist the continual attack of the devil.

Sister, I think we all know that the persecution of Christians and attacks by the devil will become more and more frequent. They are trying to shove God out of anything public, and now they are hunting Christians in our private places devoted to worship and fellowship. May God give us the strength, courage, and wisdom to preserve our places of worship and our homes. We will find most of what we need in the diligent study of God's Word.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to NateyCakes,

I'm glad you are enjoying it. I'm working on the next one, but I'm a little bit slow in the methods I use for study. Please feel free to post other Biblical Facts here. I think there is a huge assortment of beautiful facts in the Holy Bible.

Love In Christ,
Tom

The atheist,

I think that you almost set a record for the number of posts deleted on your first visit. You still need to read the rules again.

Islam denies that Jesus Christ is God, and we don't quote books from Islam here. Further, we don't defend or promote cults who deny that Jesus Christ is God.

It really wouldn't matter how polite you are, we don't allow the promotion or defense of alternative lifestyles, immoral behavior, cults who deny that Jesus Christ is God, and we certainly don't allow the mockery of Jesus Christ or the posting of cult material. This is a Christian Family Forum for people of all ages, including children. We don't provide any time or space for Islam, Voodoo, etc.

I can only assume that you knew Christians wouldn't be quoting from the books of Islam. If you didn't, you do now. If you want quotes, they will come from the Holy Bible. After all of the private messages to you about the forum rules and copies of your deleted posts, I really wasn't surprised that you want to debate the forum rules, but they are not subject to debate.

Moderator

LOL that was so funny.. you knpow when you have spent alot of time in johhny shirts in the hospital when somehting like that is said LOL..
very cute tom!!
TL

   I'd like to talk to the guy who invented those hospital clothes and give him a smack in the chops.  That's a bad trick to play on someone who is sick.

I don't know if JudgeNot saw the last funny or not, but I need to tell him one more. Symphony may get a kick of this too. They sent a guy who looked just like Lurch to get me for surgery, and the guy waited to talk before he wheeled me onto an elevator. We were all alone and he got this evil grin on his face and asked, "Do you remember giving me that ticket? It's payback time." I probably turned green, and he finally said "just kidding."  

JudgeNot, Dr. BlackEyedPeas recommends several good laughs per day.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Hoekstra Devotion - February 15

More on Grace and Good Works:

From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. And when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  (Act_14:26-27)

When the Apostle and his team left their home church of Antioch, they were commended to the grace of God." The believers at Antioch trusted in the Lord to impart sufficient grace for this demanding mission.

What an amazing journey it was. They encountered a false prophet early in the trip, as they attempted to reach a local official. Paul boldly confronted his opponent, by the power of the Spirit. "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? " (Act_13:10). When the Lord struck this sorcerer blind, the civic leader believed.

Then, in Perga, Paul effectively preached the risen Christ in the synagogue. "And the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God" (Act_13:44). When Jewish opposition arose, the team offered the gospel to the Gentiles. "Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord . . . And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region" (Act_13:48-49).

Next, in Iconium, much fruit ensued, in spite of substantial opposition. "A great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace" (Act_14:1-3).

Later, at Lystra, Paul was stoned by those who resisted the gospel. Yet, he would not be silent, continuing to Derbe and other towns. "And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned . . . strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith" (Act_14:21-22).

Now, the missionaries are back at their home church of Antioch. The work God intended was finished, because His grace brings His work to completion. "They had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed." Then, when they brought their report, they spoke of what God did, not what they did. "They reported all that God had done with them."

Dear Father, please teach me to rely upon Your grace for the tasks to which You are calling me. Lord, I too easily trust in myself, and end up with an unfinished job. Also when the responsibilities are completed, may all glory go to You, and not to me, Amen.

Hoekstra Devotion - February 14

Grace and Good Works:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.  (1Co_15:10)

The grace of God is not only His dynamic for producing spiritual fruit in our lives, but it is also His means of developing good works in us as well. The Apostle Paul had a powerful testimony to this truth. Paul became an early church leader who was engaged in more good works than any other believer. "I labored more abundantly than they all."

No one worked harder in ministry than Paul did. He traveled the known world preaching the gospel. He discipled those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus. He gathered those believers into churches, often functioning as their initial pastor. Then, he would appoint leaders and even visit them on occasion for further encouragement and training. Additionally, he wrote major portions of the New Testament, typically while locked up in prison.

Yes, Paul "labored . . . abundantly." In another letter he wrote: "To this end I also labor,  striving" (Col_1:29). Elsewhere he stated: "For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day . . . we preached to you the gospel of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:9). As he wrote the believers in Corinth he recalled: "Are they ministers of Christ . . . I am more: in labors more abundant . . . in journeys often . . . in weariness and toil" (2Co_11:23, 2Co_11:26-27).

How startling to learn that Paul was not the cause behind this wondrous effect. This seen in his confession: "yet not I." Paul exerted himself for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. How can a man labor strenuously and yet not be the cause of it all? The answer is in the remainder of his testimony: "yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." God's grace at work in Paul's life was the effective dynamic that brought forth such godly labor here on earth. "But by the grace of God I am what I am." If we put our hope in the Lord, His grace will prove effective in our lives as well, giving us a testimony similar to Paul's: "and His grace toward me was not in vain."

Access to this transforming grace is once more linked to the two relational realities of humility and faith. Paul humbly admitted this fact:" yet not I." He also exercised faith in this corollary truth: "but the grace of God which was with me."

O God of all grace, I cry out to You to work Your grace in my life, producing abundant good works in me, as You did in Paul. Lord, I desire to labor in Your service. I am encouraged to see that I do not need to measure up to Paul myself. I only need to trust in Your grace, the same grace that was not vain in Paul's life. So,humbly confessing my inadequacy, I exercise faith in Your effective grace, in Jesus holy name, Amen.

Indeed - I agree. The qualifying thing is that no matter what reference or teacher, one must "proof" the material by starting with and then going back to the bible.

I also use e-Sword and find it remarkably helpful.

Oklahoma Howdy to Gracey,

It's hard to believe that e-Sword is free. Several in my family use e-Sword, including one uncle who is a preacher. He also has a commercial Bible Study package that was probably around $1,500, but he still uses e-Sword also. The search, topic, and language functions are extremely fast and easy to use. It's a keeper.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to Symphony and JudgeNot,

I think that both of you are correct. However, the power they think they are getting is to legislate acceptance by God and by Christians. They will get neither, regardless of what laws are passed. They can call it whatever they wish, but it won't be a Holy bond of marriage recognized by God. Same sex civil unions or whatever else it winds up being called will be recognized by the devil.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to FewareChosen7f,

Thanks for the information and the idea. I had hoped to have a firm answer by now, but I got slowed down a little bit in several other Bible Studies. I'm looking at several portions of Scripture now and may have something to share with everyone soon.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Knowledge of God can be gained from all things.
But - wisdom to use the knowledge - comes through many councelors.

Oklahoma Howdy to Fewarechosen7F, Ambassador4Christ, and Petro,

I think that most people use some study aids whether they recognize it or not, especially depending on how good their personal Bible is. The better personal Bibles have mini-concordances, topical indexes, comparison/contrast portions of Scripture, maps, and most with preview commentary about each book. The quality of the additional material varies, but it is very short in comparison to separate books. If you want to do any ancient language studies, additional books are a necessity. Although I do have a couple of Bibles that contain Strong's Numbers, but that is also not part of the Bible.  

I'm not trying to argue, but I would point out it would be better to have some reference material than skip or misunderstand a portion of Scripture.

Love In Christ,
Tom