Hello, I am new here

[nChrist]

Hello Islandboy,

"The Poem" accurately describes many of the self-imposed problems that Christians have today. If we look at other relationships, it should become obvious to ALL Christians that GOD gives us MUCH MORE than we deserve. AND, we all go through times when we don't give GOD HIS rightful place in our lives. THEN, there are some Christians who actually shut GOD out of part of their lives.

NOW - let's look at the other side of this coin and what GOD wants for us. HE wants to give us HIS RICHES and a full inheritance with the Saints in LIGHT. The LIGHT is JESUS CHRIST! JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF will be our advocate and walk with us every step of the way, but HE must be invited and feel WELCOME! The WELCOME! is on HIS Terms - not ours. HE MUST be FIRST!, not just during bad times or times of emergency. There can't be ANY shame in proclaiming HIS NAME or HIS WORD! Many of the riches HE wants to give us even in this short life are left unclaimed because we don't give HIM HIS Proper Respect and Place in our lives.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

[islandboy]

THE  WORLD  NEEDS  PEOPLE

Who cannot be bought;
Whose word is their bond;
Who put character above wealth;
Who possess opinions and a will;
Who are larger than their vocations;
Who do not hesitate to take chances;
Who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
Who will be honest in small things as in great things;
Who will make no compromise with wrong;
Whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
Who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it,"
Who are true to their friends in adversity as well as prosperity;
Who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness
are the best qualities for winning success.
Who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth
Even when it is unpopular;
Who can say "no" with emphasis,
although all the rest of the world says "yes".

[islandboy]

ON  THIS  DAY  REMEMBER:

Each one of us is a child of God, and as such we are full of the promise of spiritual growth.
A young person is like the springtime of the year. The full time of the fruit is not yet, but there is promise of the blossom.
There is a spark of the Divine in every one of us. Each has some of God's spirit which can be developed by spiritual exercise.
Know that your life is full of glad promise. Such blessings can be yours, such joys, such wonders, as long as you develop in the sunshine of God's love.

[Debp]

THE  WORLD  NEEDS  PEOPLE

Who cannot be bought;
Whose word is their bond;
Who put character above wealth;
Who possess opinions and a will;
Who are larger than their vocations;
Who do not hesitate to take chances;
Who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
Who will be honest in small things as in great things;
Who will make no compromise with wrong;
Whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
Who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it,"
Who are true to their friends in adversity as well as prosperity;
Who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness
are the best qualities for winning success.
Who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth
Even when it is unpopular;
Who can say "no" with emphasis,
although all the rest of the world says "yes".

Hi Islandboy, love this poem. 

[islandboy]

Debp, Gosh how nice it was to find you had stopped by for a visit. I thought those words were so important in this day and age where it seems everyone is out for themselves instead of watching out for others, as well as, keeping their own character in check.

[islandboy]

ON  THIS  DAY  REMEMBER:

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is not seeing, but believing. Down through the ages, there have always been those who obeyed the heavenly vision, not seeing but believing in God. And their faith was rewarded. So shall it be to you. Good things will happen to you. You cannot see God, but you can see the results of faith in human lives, changing them from defeat to victory. God's grace is available to all who have faith---not seeing, but believing. With faith, life can be victorious and happy.

[islandboy]

I AM  ( BIBLE  VERSES)

1. A child of God  (Rom, 8: 16)
2. Forgiven  (Col. 1: 13,14)
3. Saved by grace through faith  (Eph. 2:
4. Justified  (Rom, 5: 1)
5. A new creature  ( 2 Cor. 5: 17)
6. Led by the Spirit of God  ( Rom. 8: 14)
7. Kept in safety wherever I go  ( Ps 91: 11)
8. Casting all my cares on Jesus  (1 Peter 5: 7)
9. Doing all things through Christ who strengthens me  ( Phil. 4: 13)
10.  Bringing every thought into captivity  (2 Cor. 10: 5)
11. Being transformed by a renewed mind  (Rom. 12: 1,2)
12. The righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5: 21)
13. An imitator of Jesus ( Eph. 5: 1)
14. Filled with laughter and rejoicing ( Job 8: 21)

[nChrist]

Amen Islandboy!

It's wonderful to think about GOD'S Promises to us often. They are part of our Riches in CHRIST! Thanks for giving us a reminder.

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

[islandboy]

THINGS  TO  PRAY  FOR:

1.  A growing relationship with God
2.  Positive relationships with your family
3.  Energy and enthusiasm for your work
4.  Wisdom to make the right decisions
5.  Your service to your church and community
6.  Moral integrity of today's young people
7.  The special needs of your family and friends
8.  Safety of those serving in our armed forces
9.  A lasting peace among peoples and nations
10. Wisdom for our government leaders
11. The spiritual lives of our church leaders
12. The opportunity to be a blessing to someone today

[islandboy]

Thank you Tom, for your words of faith. Now more than anytime during recent history it is my belief that Christians need to band together for the greater good and focus on the most important things for America, as well as, keeping our eyes on Jesus. Each day we see more and more falling away to the temptations of self, a life that draws them away from Christ, instead of toward Him. We must try to conduct our lives in the proper ways and take time each day to visit our Lord in prayer.

[nChrist]

Thank you Tom, for your words of faith. Now more than anytime during recent history it is my belief that Christians need to band together for the greater good and focus on the most important things for America, as well as, keeping our eyes on Jesus. Each day we see more and more falling away to the temptations of self, a life that draws them away from Christ, instead of toward Him. We must try to conduct our lives in the proper ways and take time each day to visit our Lord in prayer.

AMEN ISLANDBOY!

I firmly believe that you are 100% correct. The only thing I would add is Bible Study and eating the Spiritual Food GOD has provided for us to grow strong and stay strong in CHRIST. Prayer is also a big part of Bible Study. We should always pray before we study our Bibles that the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD will help us understand what we are studying and give us what GOD wants to give us from HIS WORD. Night and day, 24/7, there is always a BIG list of things that GOD wants to give to us. Our part is to say, "YES LORD, I want the things YOU have intended for me. YOU want to give me things that are more precious than silver or gold, and I want to put YOU FIRST in my life.

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

[islandboy]

THOUGHT  FOR  TODAY:

Try not to give way to criticism, blame, scorn or judgment of others, when you are trying to help them. Effectiveness in helping others depends on controlling yourself. You may be swept away by a temporary natural urge to criticise or blame, unless you keep a tight rein on your emotions. You should have a firm foundation of spiritual living which makes you truly humble, if you are going to really help other people. Go easy on them and be hard on yourself. That is the way you can be used most to uplift a despairing spirit. And seek no personal recognition for what you are used by God to accomplish.

[nChrist]

THOUGHT  FOR  TODAY:

Try not to give way to criticism, blame, scorn or judgment of others, when you are trying to help them. Effectiveness in helping others depends on controlling yourself. You may be swept away by a temporary natural urge to criticise or blame, unless you keep a tight rein on your emotions. You should have a firm foundation of spiritual living which makes you truly humble, if you are going to really help other people. Go easy on them and be hard on yourself. That is the way you can be used most to uplift a despairing spirit. And seek no personal recognition for what you are used by God to accomplish.

Hello Islandboy,

I understand this message, but I would have mixed emotions about it in many situations. As an example, one of the first needed steps for the lost is knowledge of sin and knowledge that there is a need for Salvation. In other circumstances, silence about wrong or harmful acts might be the same as calling evil good. In fact, it could encourage someone to continue something that is hurting themselves and others. On the other side of the coin, there is the wrongful judgment of others. This becomes confusing to many Christians unless they consider the things that GOD has already judged to be right or wrong. Here's where thoughts of banning the Holy Bible come into the discussion. The Holy Bible does convict of wrong-doing, and many people don't like this. SO, they try to get the Bible banned as hate speech. We all should know that the Bible is not "hate speech", rather "love speech" that has more power to help someone than anything else in the world. Here's also where "political correctness" enters the picture. Some view "political correctness" as right and kind, but many kinds of "political correctness" are actually cruel.

Sister, I didn't intend this to be argument - just thoughts in other areas of this huge issue. Most obviously, only JESUS CHRIST is righteous, so if there is any Glory at all, let it be Glory in CHRIST.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable GIFT, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour Forever!

[islandboy]

Tom, It was good of you to add your point of view, as looking at it from a different angle. These little sayings come from an old spiritual book that also includes prayers as well. I thought this would give people something to think about in their own lives. These thoughtful pieces provide people a way to look at their Christian or Non-Christian lives and for them personally l to make a judgement call about their own actions. It is not a bad thing to be humble before our Lord. Sometimes it is a good thing to hold your tongue, drather then giving advice that turns people away from God, not toward Him, because we had to make our point about something in their life. If we stand strong in our faith and with God, and in prayer, God will provide the path we are to use in dealing with problems and in helping others. Nothing turns me off quicker than someone who behaves as if I know nothing and they know it all. We are to work for God, not act as if we are God.
Tom, I appreciate the comments you provided. It make me think more about my life and my actions in helping others.

[nChrist]

Hello Islandboy,

I do understand. I'm one of the recipients of GOD'S Matchless and Amazing Grace, and HE offers it to ALL who will take it. I'll just pray that everyone takes your post and mine in the manner in which they were intended.

Love In Christ,
Tom